25 February 2023

KHL. Barys - Lokomotiv. Trainer's comments (video)

After the match Barys - Lokomotiv (3:5) a press conference was held with the Head Trainers of both teams.

Igor Nikitin, Lokomotiv Head Trainer

- Regular season is over. It was pleasant to see fans coming to support the team - it's great and we weren't bored. Scored goals that predicted the outcome of the match. In our minds, of course, we're already in the playoffs.

- In your mind, you're already in the playoffs, but you're going up against Vityaz, have you already analyzed your opponent?

- We don't know yet who we're coming out to. We didn't choose or analyze anyone. We did our thing, so we're waiting for the results. We'll get ready when the time comes.

- There was a delayed penalty five minutes before the end; it seemed that the team was in no rush and did not force things.

- I agree. Why risk it? The main thing is not to rebound into our own net. As you said, there was an opportunity to keep the puck up, so we did.

Andrei Skabelka, Barys Head Trainer

- I want to thank the fans, despite everything there was such a hockey atmosphere today. Came all the way to support. As for the game: we missed such easy goals. Boys really wanted to please the fans, but, unfortunately, it did not succeed. The season is now over.

- Team wasn't fighting for the playoffs anymore, and we've seen in recent games that you concede three goals per period, and then in bursts of good play, you are catching back up. Is this a psychological factor?

- I have a different opinion: you get the opportunity. Such an unusual season this year for the Barys team, we saw a lot of mercenaries every year, this season we had 5-6 the most in the game. Guys got a lot of playing time, an chance to get into KHL, prove themselves. Talk about how we didn't get into the playoffs, so what? It doesn't mean we're done with hockey, does it? It is the worst quality in an athlete if he does not have inner motivation. For a professional athlete, it's all about the desire to achieve victory, no matter what it takes. If you don't have that motivation, you're a "foot traffic" here.

- There was no Bracco and Louis today. How much was their absence felt or vice versa?

- Obviously, our thoughts were around preparing the guys for the national team, and we wanted to give them more practice at this level. Sure, we didn't get into the playoffs, maybe Bracco or Louis would have scored some goals, but it was important for us to see the other guys, to give them an chance to play in different situations. The same goes for the goalie.