Head coach of Chelyabinsk “Tractors” Alexei Zavarukhin said the second game was the key to the Fonbet KHL Championship semi-final playoff series with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.
On Monday, Traktor completed its performance in the KHL playoffs by losing at home to Lokomotiv with a score of 0:3 in the fourth game of the series. The second semi-final match, held on April 4, ended with the victory of the Yaroslavl team in overtime – 3:2.
— The key moment of the series?
— The second game was key, we equalized the score, but missed a quick goal in overtime. But we have drawn conclusions, all that remains is to digest them. When we lost Zach Fucale, we collapsed a little psychologically.
— In previous episodes, your implementation was much better. What is the reason?
— There wasn’t enough emotion, enthusiasm. Especially at the start of the third game. The opponent was ahead of us by a fraction of a second. I agree that there was no execution, but the opponents have a worthy team. We tried to score, but we had no luck.
— Did the significant gap between the series play a role in the overall result?
— We prepared as standard. We tried to play ‘5v5’ so there was a rhythm of play. But after 10 minutes we relaxed and conceded some ridiculous goals which derailed us.
— What did this episode teach you?
— I won’t say it’s a question of experience. The guys played like they know how. Sure, there were times when they did something wrong, but those who don’t play hockey don’t make mistakes.
—Was Fucale’s injury a key moment in the series?
– No, Mylnikov acted with dignity and kept us in the match. Zach was always with us, but his enthusiasm on the ice was not enough for the team. What kind of injury does Zach have? This is a secret hidden behind seven seals, ”reports the correspondent of , according to Zavarukhin’s words.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
