– In the first period, I felt fine, but then it’s already hard because you get out of the rhythm of the game. In training, you ride more in circles, there are shuttles. But this is also not a game mode. You can’t create it in training, although you try. The game is the coolest workout.
– Didn’t it seem to you that “Salavat” seemed to be generally inferior to “Ak Bars” in speed?
– No, Ak Bars has the same tactics – they substitute and run into the zone, and we play rollback. So it looked like they were running quite well. We had to take the puck away, spend our energy on it, and then run even further forward. I think this difference is visual and affected.
– You had a plan to play on the counterattacks. Wasn’t there a spare?
– What does a backup plan mean? We have a tactic that we stick to and a plan to catch the opponent on the counterattack when he can be overwhelmed by emotions. There were such moments. The only thing we gave the opponent was a goal at the end of the second period. We were punished for this mistake. In the third period, Kazan already had a psychological advantage. I think that tactically we played well, we had to make less mistakes.
– Is it possible to endure with such “Ak Bars”?
– Of course, you can generally play safely. Won Lyokha Pustozerov scored a goal – they played quietly for two periods. These are the mistakes that happen. After the second period, we talked in the locker room about the character, that you need to climb, earn removals on yourself. These are all elements of the playoff game. I think there is still time.
– Was this a plan for the away game? Or will you play from a position of strength at home?
– If you look at the dynamics of the season, then we have such a system – rollback. It all depends on how the opponent plays. “Ak Bars” also put pressure. There are teams that play completely in the rollback, and there already someone will endure someone.
– Fans don’t like rollback…
– In addition to rollback, there is the word victory. In this case, “Ak Bars” won and it’s good for them. And if we won and the rollback worked, then no one would reproach us. It is clear that the fans want to please, but glasses are also needed.
– In the first derbies, you played differently …
– And “Ak Bars” played differently.
– That is, this is another “Ak Bars”?
– Of course, it is clear that some work has been done in the team. I even now talked with the guys and they tell me that now it has become better.
– Doesn’t it make you angry that Radulov celebrates goals too emotionally?
– Why should you be angry? You need to drive up and drag it from behind, they say it’s impossible? No, it’s a game. You don’t think about it. And you think about how to go to the next shift and not miss, – said Panin.
