Press conference with head coaches Ilya Vorobyov and Anvar Gatiyatulin, and also players Yegor Korobkin and Sergei Mylnikov.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Ilya Vorobyov, Metallurg head coach:
– First of all, I want to congratulate Vitaly Atyushov on the jersey lifting ceremony. It is the most pleasant moment of today. There is not much to comment on the game. 
– Whom you are waiting for among those who didn't play today to play in the playoffs? 
– Now I am not able to answer this question. 
– How would you comment overtimes in this season? Can you say that Metallurg lose all of them because you didn't pay extra attention to the the 3-on-3 game? 
– We worked on this component, paid attention to it. Maybe it was a psychology issue. It's good that in the playoffs there is a standard 5-on-5 format.
Anvar Gatiyatulin, Traktor head coach:
– I am glad at this victory. In general, we played patiently, strictly according to the plan. We gave ourselves in every moment, fought for the puck. In the end, thanks to an empty net we managed to even the score. I am very grateful to the team for their dedication and to our fans on the road. 
– Did you expect this victory? 
– We play every game to win, every game is important to us. 
– Some journalists from Ufa write that you deliberately chose weakened players in order not to play with Magnitogorsk in the playoffs. 
– I haven't read that. We have a team, we go out with the goal to win. 
– How do you rate the debut of the young today? 
– They did what was required of them. We congratulated them on their debut in the locker room. There is a reason for working with more energy to get to the main team. And an example for our nearest reserve. 
– How is Yaroslav Kosov's health? 
– Yesterday he trained with the main group, but mostly he follows individually according to the program. We will look at his condition, consult with doctors. 
– Sum up the results of the regular season. 
– All three teams are in the playoffs, the system works. But all the thoughts are now about the playoff games. We have been preparing for it since the first day of the preseason. The most important time is ahead.

***

Egor Korobkin, Metallurg forward:
– We ended the championship with a defeat. We lost the whole game for 8 seconds, so to speak. I think this game toughens us up. We took a little acceleration before the playoffs. 
– Sum up the results of the regular season for yourself and for the team.
– For myself, everything is bad, I think. I would like it better – I want all or nothing. But nothing, everything is ahead. I can show myself off in a playoff, raise the cup over my head. For us, the championship was not too smooth, also due to the pandemic. But we took a fairly high place. The most important games are ahead. We are getting ready.
– Does the atmosphere in the team differs before and after the break at the Euro Tour? 
– I do not even know when there was a pause on the Euro Tour! We played with Jokerit. We trained, played, worked. It's all right!
– Why did the team slow down in the last matches? 
– Maybe we didn't get as much rest like everyone else. Some team were resting for five days, went on holidays, while we were training. I think this training will not go down the tubes. We took a small step back to aspeed upand jump into the playoffs. 
– Tell us about your confrontation with Evenko.
– I go and spur him on, yes. I have this task and while it seems to work. He's such an explosive guy. Today he got 2 penalties due to me. I have this game aim and try to follow it. 
– You didn't win any overtime – it is like a jinx! 
– I hope that we left all the wins in the playoffs!

***

Sergei Mylnikov, Traktor goalkeeper:
– It was a tough game. Metallurg is a good team with skillful players. We were preparing for them. Also we analyzed their power play. Good game, good win. 
– What do you think about your debut? 
– Nothing special, just a game. I didn't think about it at all, so I went out to play good hockey. 
– Did you feel nervous before the game?
– No, I was expecting excitement, but it wasn't. I went out and played calmly. Only positive emotions calmly played. The guys supported, the whole team encouraged throughout the game. Good atmosphere.
– What emotions did you feel after the goal in overtime?
– Devastation, I guess. Like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was already thinking about shootouts, about the masters of Metallurg. But when Ilya scored, this weight fell off his shoulders.