SKA is to play Spartak Moscow in the First Round of Playoffs. The first two games will be played in Saint-Petersburg.
On March 2 and 3 SKA will play Spartak in Ledovy Ice Palace at 19:00.
According to the Games Schedule for the First Round of Playoffs SKA will play its first roadtrip playoff game versus Spartak on March 5 in Moscow.
If necessary, Game Four will take

SKA finished the Regular Championship by beating the Championship’s leading team Salavat Yulayev on February 26.
Saint-Petersburg Team finished eighth in the Championship Standings securing the home ice advantage for the First Round of Playoffs.
SKA finished third in its own Tarasov Division.
Of the 56 Regular Championship games SKA won 26 in regulation time, 2 in overtime and 7 after shootouts.
SKA scored 143 goals with only as few as 105 goals against.
Quite notably, it is SKA that has the fewest goals against in the Regular Season.

According to the Regular Championship Results SKA Goaltender Dmitry Yachanov was named the Best Goalie in League by the Saves Percentage– 91.8%! (335 saves in 22 games).
His Goals Against Average is 1.47.

Dear Fans!
The People’s Artiste of Russia, celebrated tenor of Mariinsky Opera House Vasily Gerello will take part in the Ceremony of Opening of the Home Games of 1/8 Playoffs SKA – Spartak. Welcome at the games!

SKA – Salavat Yulayev 5:4 (2:1, 1:0, 1:3, 1:0)
1:0 – 01.29 Nemirovsky (Sushinsky, Kryukov)
1:1 – 08.13 Koltsov (Mikeska, Antipov)
2:1 – 18.55 Sushinsky
3:1 – 27.06 Makarov (Petrov)
4:1 – 41.34 Petrov (Gusev, Varlamov)
4:2 – 47.08 Radulov (Kuteykin, Taratukhin)
4:3 – 53.10 Radulov (Taratukhin)
4:4 – 59.27 Kuteykin (Radulov), PP
5:4 – 62.54 Nemirovsky (Sushinsky)
Goaltenders: Yachanov – Tarasov (58.34-59.27 EN).
Comments on the Game:
Sergey Mikhalev, Head Coach of Salavat Yulayev:
– In the beginning of the game SKA played very good hockey, they were faster than us and showed great physicality. They were in great spirit and fought for the victory they needed more than us. SKA brilliantly took advantage of every mistake we’ve made. We were down 4:1 and it seemed impossible for us to save the game. I am grateful to the guys for having found the way to mend the situation and tie but we ran out of strength in overtime.
Barry Smith, Head Coach of SKA:
– We had good control of the game but when it was 4:1 we made two mistakes but we’ve played a lot of close games so it would have been a good ending but then there was a bad call – Makarov. Ufa is a very strong team, they don’t need many chances – they scored a nice goal on the powerplay with goalie out. And then we had a chance to win in overtime. But it was a playoff game tonight: a good physical game with intensity and I am going to say that one hundred per cent the crowd was fantastic tonight – it was an excellent environment to play in – it gives you great feel to play. I want to thank our fans for the season as well as all the people who support our team. Now we have a new season as the playoffs start. We start again and we are looking forward to it.

Dear Fans!
Tickets are now available for the First Round Playoff Games SKA – Spartak Moscow (March 2, Monday, 19:00 and March 3, Tuesday, 19:00) at the booking office of Ledovy Ice Palace.
The booking office is open daily 11:00 till 20:00. Phone: +7(812) 718 6620. We welcome you at the stands! Saint-Petersburg will be Red-Blue!

We wish a very Happy Birthday to SKA defenseman Kirill Safronov! Dear Kirill, we wish firm health and happiness to you and your most devoted fans – your wife and your daughter!

Tonight at Ledovy Ice Palace SKA will play its closing game in KHL Regular Championship against Salavat Yulayev. Barry Smith, the Head Coach of SKA said a few words on the upcoming game:
- Salavat Yulayev is the best team in the League. They won the Championship last season. Playing such an opponent is a great test for us.

Dmitry Yachanov will defend the goal in tonight’s game against Salavat Yulayev.
Defenseman Andrey Zyuzin and forward Kostantin Gorovikov will not play tonight while defenseman Raimond Giroux and forward Artem Kryukov will appear on ice.

Dear Fans!
Tonight at 19:00 listen to SKA – Salavat Yulayev game live on Radio Zenit (89,7 FM). Join us on air if you cannot come to Ledovy Ice Palace!

Dear Fans!
Tonight at 19:00 watch SKA – Salavat Yulayev game live on 100TV. Join us anywhere if you cannot come to Ledovy Ice Palace!

Sergey Varlamov, SKA Forward:
– We had to beat Tractor and we had to do it beautifully being up by many goals. Our opponent was rather rude but there is a remedy to that. In the first period we have shown how it has to be done: we pulled their defense asunder, moved fast and had good control of the puck. In the second period the game became more tough and physical. But still we had many chances to win. But we were not very lucky and ruined quite a few great chances. As a result everything came to shootouts. It was a great surprise for me when the coaches entrusted me with performing one of the shots. Barry Smith asked me if I was ready to shoot and I replied: yes. So I was fortunate enough to have scored.
Igor Makarov, SKA Forward:
– I am very happy to have been named the Best Player of the game by the coaching staff. I have an ambiguous feeling about our game against Tractor: we have left so much energy on the ice. Chelyabinsk is difficult to play against: they play sticky hockey with a lot of physicality and rudeness. We were up for most of the game and it was such a shame to give away one point to them. But it was still great to earn the victory on shootouts.

Today the students of Anglo-American school watched SKA practice. Young SKA fans watched their favourite team practice in Ledovy Ice Palace. After the practice they visited the locker room and had a chance to talk to the Head Coach Barry Smith, the Director of Hockey Operations Igor Larionov and defenseman Andrey Zyuzin.

SKA – Tractor – 3:2 PS (2:1, 0:0, 0:1, 0:0)
0:1 – 03.35 Kvasha (Skachkov)
1:1 – 10.45 Makarov (Brylin), PP
2:1 – 15.00 Sushinsky (Boychenko)
2:2 – 55.32 Dadonov (Lacos), PP
3:2 – Varlamov, PS
Goaltenders: Esche – Alistratov.
Comments on the Game:
Andrey Nazarov, Head Coach of Tractor:
– In my opinion tonight’s game was a very interesting one. I was extremely serious when I told the guys to approach the game as a playoff game. I was trying to explain them that they’ve got to get tuned into the playoff rhythm today. But when it came to shootouts we gave in.
Barry Smith, Head Coach of SKA:
- We had a very good first period and I don’t know why our third goal was disallowed. We still had chances to score that goal but instead they scored on powerplay. The game was very intense with a lot of physicality. It was great for the guys to have won the game. I am especially happy for Sergey Varlamov for having scored such an important goal.

Tonight at 19:00 in Ledovy Ice Palace SKA will play against Tractor in a KHL Championship game. The Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith commented on the upcoming game:

- Tractor play very physical game. They have great size and they are very effective in the first period. We have to be on top of our game and if we have a powerplay we have to score to punish them for taking penalties.

Tonight at 19:00 listen to SKA – Tractor game live on Radio Zenit (89.7FM). Support us on air if you cannot join us in Ledovy Ice Palace!

Dear Fans!
Tonight at 19:00 watch SKA – Tractor game live on 100TV! Support us anywhere if you cannot join us in Ledovy Ice Palace!

Our sincere greetings to all men on the Army Day!
We wish you and your families health, happiness and prosperity!

Yevgeny Korolev, SKA Defenseman:
– We have studied the way Metallurg play – they try to breakout using passes. Thus, our task was to block them in the neutral zone right from the start. We played with enough density and thus deprived Magnitogorsk of their strongest point – the opportunity to make plays. Besides we made good use of our scoring chances.

Igor Misko, SKA Forward:
– It was an excellent game and I liked it a lot. It is very interesting to play against such an opponent. We had few penalties and possessing the puck we made the guys from the Urals play on our terms. After all, we couldn’t have lost to them for the fourth time this season.

SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk – 3:0 (1:0, 2:0, 0:0)

1:0 – 03.49 Y. Korolev (Makarov, Brylin)
2:0 – 22.33 A. Korolev (Shvidky)
3:0 – 27.20 Gorovikov (Sushinsky, Korolev), PP

Goaltenders: Esche – Proskuryakov.

Comments on the Game:

Valery Belousov, Head Coach of Metallurg Magnitogorsk:
– I think tonight SKA earned a well deserved victory. Tonight they played with more power and speed than us – that’s why they have won.

Barry Smith, Head Coach of SKA:
- I would say that the way the boys’ mentality was at the start of the game – it was very, very good, it was excellent. We want to improve on the last three games we play. Valery’s team Magnitogorsk has done a good job against us this season. We were fortunate tonight. We had good energy tonight and we played a good team game and when they had a chance Robert Esche was there to make a save. So it is good for us to play this way as we come into the playoffs.

- I would say that the way the boys’ mentality was at the start of the game – it was very, very good, it was excellent. We want to improve on the last three games we play. Valery’s team Magnitogorsk has done a good job against us this season. We were fortunate tonight. We had good energy tonight and we played a good team game and when they had a chance Robert Esche was there to make a save. So it is good for us to play this way as we come into the playoffs.
Barry Smith: We approach our opponent very seriously.

Tonight at 17:00 in Yubileyny Sport Complex SKA will play against Metallurg Magnitogorsk in a KHL Championship game. The Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith commented on the upcoming game:
– We are to play against a very strong team that is excellent offensively. We approach the upcoming game against Magnitogorsk very seriously.

Tonight at 17:00 watch SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk game live on 100TV! Support us anywhere if you cannot join us in Ledovy Ice Palace!
SKA – Tractor Live on Radio Zenit

SKA defenseman Andrey Zyuzin will not play in tonight’s game against Metallurg Magnitogorsk and defenseman Marc Popovic will play instead. Robert Esche will be defending the goal.
SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk Live on 100TV

Tonight at 17:00 listen to SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk game live on Radio Zenit (89.7FM). Support us on air if you cannot join us in Ledovy Ice Palace!

Robert Esche:
Q: Can you please say a few words about the upcoming games and each of the three teams you are to play?
A: I think it is really exciting to play some really good teams that close to playoffs. I know that guys on our team are looking at them as a measuring stick as well as the fact that there are some important points for us maybe to make some ground in the playoff ice. The teams we are going to play: obviously Ufa is a terrific hockey club while Magnitogorsk and Tractor are our division rivals so they are always tough to play against and if we want to win everything this year we will probably have to beat all the three of those teams – maybe not all three but at some point or another I am sure we are going to play one of them in playoffs if we want to win.
Q: The team won three away games on the last road trip: how did it help to raise the team’s spirit and to build up confidence?
A: You know, the one thing about the road trip wasn’t actually who we played, it was the fact of travel and what a tough road trip it was physically on the body. There were three games that we had to win, the three games that we should have won and the three games that we did win and so I think overall it was terrific for every single player on that trip. We all felt great about it.
Q: You have mentioned that the road trip was physically tough on your body; what has then happened to it – did you lose weight?
A: Oh no, no! It’s just, you know, you don’t sleep and then the time changes and all the travel – it just really adds up and to come out with three wins I think is a testament to our team.
Q: In the last few games you were quite emotional to the point of hitting things with your stick which resulted in misconducts. What was the reason for that?
A: I think it was poor judgment on my part. I give you my word that that problem won’t happen again unless I absolutely have to do it to defend somebody. I let emotion get the better part of me and I know that that’s not right. I am an emotional guy – I apologize for acting like that.
Q: Among the three visiting teams – Salavat, Tractor and Magnitogorsk – are there any forwards that are most unpredictable and difficult to play against?
A: I am a really bad person to ask questions on something like that. I am always focused all my attention on our team and I feel that there is no team out there that can beat you when you do that and that’s the kind of way that I approach the game. I don’t worry about other players or other coaches. I am worried about what is our team going to do and how we are going to prepare over the course of the week.
Q: You are the first goaltender of SKA and your partner Dmitry Yachanov has the best stats in the League. What do you think of that and how do you get along with Dmitry?
A: Well, obviously, you don’t try to compete with one another when you are teammates. You make one another whole and you complete one another. Dima and I work well together and I think it is good going into the playoffs to have both goalies playing well and you hope you can continue raising your game and playing better, a lot better in the playoffs than you do in the regular season. Dima is a great guy and he’s had a great season and you know I am no stranger to that and I know he’s been terrific and I understand that and he’s been a terrific teammate as well.
Q: When we talked after the last home game you told us that you beard was not intended to make you lucky but that you simply were too lazy to shave. Today your beard I seven longer than mine – are you going to keep on with it till you win the playoffs?
A: No, I have shaved it off some five or six days ago but it just grows too fast – I am simply too lazy – it is not a superstition.

Barry Smith:
Q: Could you please give us your comments on the upcoming games?
A: The most important factor is that we want to keep the confidence that we brought from our last three games. So we want to try to win all the three games. So first game first – of course it is Magnitogorsk. Each team has a different personality and each team plays a different type of game so it is a good test for us to come into the playoffs.
Q: As I watched your today’s practice I have seen you practice face-offs with the players yourself. Was it because you do not entrust certain things to your assistant coaches?
A: No, it is just that I work with centers a lot on face-offs since it is a big part of the game and I always had a chance to practice face-offs with all my centers so it is just natural I do it.
Q: You have just said that each one of the three upcoming opponents has a different face. Could you please characterize each of them in a few words?
A: Magnitogorsk has excellent forwards in the offensive end; I think Marek may be the best forward in the League. They don’t need many chances to score a goal. Tractor is a very physical team – they try to beat you up as much as to win the game and Ufa has four strong blocks, very good shots from the blue line and they play well defensively.
Q: This season SKA wasn’t doing very well against Magnitogorsk. What is the reason for that?
A: Each game was very close. Pulled the goalies, last chances. The game we had here we came back and tied them 2:2 and we’ve had 1:0 late into the third period so each game has been close and we just haven’t beaten them.
Q: Are all the players ready to take part in the upcoming games or maybe you will spare some of them for playoffs?
A: For sure Nils Ekman is not ready to play as well as Kasparaitis. I think Zyuzin is close to being one hundred per cent so we’ll see. He played on the road trip. Other than that all our players are in pretty god health.
Q: How soon will we see Kasparaitis back?
A: It is very difficult to say – he’s had four surgeries this season. The problem with Kasparaitis is that he overtrains – so he has no patience. So I have to make sure he is hundred per cent healthy before he has a chance to play this time. So we have no idea when.
Q: And what about Ekman?
A: Ekman is training now and he is going to skate tomorrow and for sure it will be two weeks and then we’ll see.
Q: If it is not a secret, how are you going to use Brylin in the next three games? Is he going to play right, left or center?
A: Center.
Q: With Nemirovsky?
A: No. Brylin played very well with Igor Misko and Igor Makarov. They had a god group.
Q: Are you already thinking of Spartak?
A: No.
Q: What about Tractor?
A: No. I am only thinking about Magnitogorsk first because there is no sense in wasting so much energy and then in the last moment – Boom! – we don’t play them.

On Friday, February 20 at 12:30 press conference dedicated to the upcoming games of KHL Championship will be held by the Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith and SKA goaltender Robert Esche at the Press Center of Yubileyny Sport Complex.

Today on returning from Khabarovsk SKA resumed practicing in Yubileyny SC where the team is to play against Metallurg Magnitogorsk next Sunday, February 22. The Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith summarized the results of the road trip series:
– I am happy with the way we played our road trip games. In Novokuznetsk we won 1:0. In Novosibirsk we were up 3:0 after the first period and ended up winning 3:2. In Khabarovsk we were losing 2:1 after the first period but we did a great job in the third period and won 3:2.
The players will have practices at Yubileyny every day until the game against Metallurg:
– Today everybody was doing off-ice and some players had an on-ice practice while others did bikes. Tomorrow we will practice both on- and off-ice.

David Nemirovsky, SKA Forward:
– It has always been difficult to play in Khabarovsk because of the time difference. But we approached this away game very seriously and worked out our schedule putting every detail into account. As a result, despite al the time on the road, we were still feeling ok. However, the game was still not an easy one and we only won by one goal. And of course I am very happy to have scored twice.
Alexander Kucheryavenko, SKA Forward:
– The game was a difficult one. Amur scored a quick goal and we managed to tie but in the second period they scored again. Before the third period in the locker room we were pulling ourselves together to play our hardest to turn the tables and win. We were well aware that that was our last regular season away game and we were anxious to come back to Saint-Petersburg with one hundred per cent result to make our fans happy and to approach the remaining games in good spirit.

SKA-2 left for Tambov and Voronezh to play a road trip series of the First League Tournament, Center zone.
On February 18 and 19 SKA-2 will play Tambov HC at 18:00. On February 21 and 22 SKA-2 will play Buran in Voronezh.
Mikhail Kravets, Head Coach of SKA-2:
- We have very difficult games ahead. Tambov is among the leaders of our zone so the games will be very intense. Our opponents need points badly as well as we do since now the fight is on for better positions in playoffs.

Amur – SKA – 2:3 (1:1, 1:0, 0:2)

1:0 – 02.08 Sarmatin (Ignatushkin), PP
1:1 – 13.44 Nemirovsky (Sushinsky)
2:1 – 25.58 Sarmatin (Seleznev)
2:2 – 44.22 Nemirovsky (Gusev, Peretyagin)
2:3 – 51.12 Brylin (Giroux, Makarov), PP

Goaltenders: Moss (58.42-60.00 EN) – Yachanov.

Comments on the Game:

Barry Smith, Head Coach of SKA:

– Anatoly’s team played very well, especially in the first half. They were cutting through us with long passes and we had to spend almost one full period to build up our game. I knew it would not be easy for us because we have already changed three time zones. But the boys managed to find strength in the second period and started creating chances – it was a shame though we didn’t score. And in the third period we’ve been lucky. I thanked the boys for having found the way to win.

Anatoly Yemelin, Head Coach of Amur:

- Unfortunately, we ran out of strength. We are not ready for such a schedule when we have to play four games in six nights. Tonight was a totally different game as we played hard. I asked every player to play for the team but, unfortunately, some of them still played for themselves. On behalf of the team and on behalf of Amur Ice Hockey Club in general I would like to thank the press and our fans for their support – we had your support even through our worst moments… thank you! I promise you that in our away games we will continue fighting, not just pass time away. Once again, thank you all so much!

Tonight in Khabarovsk SKA will play against local Amur. Barry Smith, the Head Coach of SKA made comments on the upcoming game:
– The most difficult thing we’ll have to deal with tonight is the time difference. To play in Novosibirsk is one thing, but playing in Khabarovsk is totally different and still I hope the boys will pull through. I am content with the overall state of the team. Amur have lost their last game and so they will prepare to play us very seriously to justify themselves in front of the public. They can also afford to take it easy since they will not make the playoffs anyway.

SKA defenseman Andrey Zyuzin will play tonight against Amur. Defensemen Mark Popovic and Kirill Safronov as well as forwards Alexander Golovin and Artem Kryukov will not play in tonight’s game. Dmitry Yachanov will be tending the goal.

Dear Fans!
Andrey Tochitsky, the General Manager of SKA will be commenting tonight’s game between Amur Khabarovsk and SKA starting at 12:00 live on Radio Zenit (89,7 FM).
His comments will be on air at 14:15.

Dear Fans!
Watch Amur Khabarovsk – SKA game live on Russia Sport today at 11:55.
You can also watch the game live on Sportbox web portal click this link.

We wish a very Happy Birthday to Mikhail Manchik, the assistant to Head Coach of SKA!
Dear Mikhail, we sincerely wish you happiness, health and good luck!

0:1 – 07.35 A. Korolev (Kucheryavenko)
0:2 – 12.41 Gordiyuk (Y. Korolev), PP
0:3 – 17.11 Boychenko (Y. Korolev, Giroux), PP
1:3 – 39.52 Berdnikov (Muratov)
2:3 – 59.20 Tarasenko
Goaltenders: Simchuk (20.00-59.35 Klyuchnikov, 59.35-60.00 EN) – Esche (59.20-60.00 Yachanov).

Comments on the Game:

Vladimir Semenov, Head Coach of Sibir:
– Unfortunately we started shyly, the boys were a little afraid of the opponent. So they scored three goals against us. But during the break I managed to get through to them that our team can play hockey too. I am pleased that the boys listened to me and for two periods played what I believe to be very strong hockey.

Barry Smith, Head Coach of SKA:
– We had a great first period and we scored twice on powerplay. In the second period Sibir had very good chances. We also played a lot on power play but we could not score the fourth goal that would give us a stronger lead. As a result at the end of the game the situation became very intense as our lead became minimal. I am happy that we have won but Sibir played very well.

Robert Esche will keep the goal in the game against Sibir. Defensemen Andrey Zyuzin and Aleksey Petrov as well as forwards Alexander Golovin and Artem Kryukov will not play.

Tonight in Novosibirsk SKA will play in a KHL Championship game against Sibir. The Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith said a few words about the upcoming game:
– We are to play a dangerous opponent. We’ve got to be attentive. Sibir players are not burdened by responsibility for the result. Sibir did very well in their last game against Severstal.

Dear Fans!
Andrey Tochitsky, the General Manager of SKA will be commenting tonight’s game between Metallurg Novokuznetsk and SKA starting at 14:00 live on Radio Zenit (89,7 FM).
The newsblocks with his comments will be on air at 14:45, 15:45 and 16:45.

SKA Goalie Dmitry Yachanov commented on Metallurg Novokuznetsk-SKA Game (0:1):
– We played well, with strength and confidence. But unfortunately we could not score on many chances. From the very beginning and till the middle of the game we absolutely outplayed them but then the initiative gradually started to pass on to our opponent. The ending was a nervous one which was fairly logical: the score was such that any mistake could prove fatal.

Metallurg – SKA – 0:1 (0:1, 0:0, 0:0)
0:1 – 04.28 Sushinsky (Makarov, Nemirovsky).
Goaltenders: Sokolov – Yachanov.
Comments on the Game:
Boris Mikhailov, Head Coach of Metallurg Novokuznetsk:
- We have lost the first period. Then we had some scoring chances but failed to make use of them. It is difficult to play against a team like SKA that is two levels ahead of us. First one would need to jump over one’s head. To make things worse we are playing without our three best players – Gorzava, Mikhailov and Polischuk. In tonight’s game I would like to make a special mention of Sokolov who did a really great job.
Barry Smith, Head Coach of SKA:
- Before the January break our team did not play well enough. We knew that tonight we would have to play a serious opponent that is fast and disciplined. We had a great first period and scored a goal. We could have scored more, but it didn’t happen. Both teams played hard to the end but tonight our goalie did a great job.

Today in a First League Tournament home game SKA-2 defeated Soviet Wings-2 6:0. Yegor Chuguyev and Sergey Monakhov scored a double each and the remaining two goals for SKA-2 were scored by Yaroslav Gorbachenko and Yury Skvortsov. Mikhail Meyer was tending the goal.
Mikhail Kravets, Head coach of SKA-2:
- In today’s game our players played the same hockey they did in our second game against Voskresensk. All the four blocks did very well. Mikhail Meyer did an excellent job making two breakaway saves.

Dmitrty Yachanov will be tending the goal in the game against Metallurg Novokuznetsk. On decision of the Coaching Staff defensemen Andrey Zyuzin and Aleksey Petrov as well as forwards Alexander Golovin and Artem Kryukov will not play in the game.

Tonight in Novokuznetsk SKA will play in a KHL Championship game against local Metallurg. The Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith said a few words about the upcoming game:
- Metallurg play at high speed. They will be very difficult to play against. We’ve got to do our best in the first period and maintain maximum discipline.

Dear Fans!
Andrey Tochitsky, the General Manager of SKA will be commenting tonight’s game between Metallurg Novokuznetsk and SKA starting at 15:00 live on Radio Zenit (89,7 FM).
The newsblocks with his comments will be on air at 15:45, 16:45 and 17:45.

Q: How was the team doing during the break?
A: We’ve done a lot of work during the break in KHL Championship. We fulfilled all the programs we had to both on and off the ice. We played an exhibition game winning 6:4. I think we are ready for the roadtrip series 95 or even full 100 per cent and we are leaving for Novokuznetsk in good spirit tomorrow.
Q: How much attention was paid at practices to scoring on chances?
A: We really score fewer goals this year. It would be great to score more often. Naturally I am working on it too. I regularly get good scoring chances in our games, but still I haven’t scored many goals. I hope everything is yet to come especially that our most important games are still ahead of us.
Q: Could you please say a few words about each team you are to play?
A: All the three teams have the same advantage – the time difference. So playing them will not be easy. In audition, Metallurg is a very fast team while Amur and Sibir play very well on home ice with all the support they get from many fans that come to watch them play. We have difficult games ahead of us, but we’ve got to win.
Q: Do you feel that playoffs are drawing near?
A: Of course I do. Today everybody is practicing a lot harder – one can feel the playoffs are at hand. Everyone wants to play as if playoff games were already being played to arrive into optimal shape on time.
Q: Will the game against Metalurg Novokuznetsk be of special importance to you?
A: I don’t think so. Of cause they are coached by Boris Mikhaylov who used to coach SKA. But we are not talking of a principal match here. The main thing for us as hockey players is simply to win.

Q: How is the team doing right now?
A: I told the boys that I have been in quite a few training camps and I haven’t seen a training camp where the players tried to work as hard as players did this past and I asked them to play games as well as they practice. So it is like studying for an exam – the exam is the game – we study very well and now I want them to enjoy taking the exam – to enjoy playing the game at a high level. The physical off-ice was excellent. The on-ice was very good as we got a good boost from VMF players. So we brought more players in so that we can have a more difficult play and more rest per repetition.
Q: Could you please say a few words about the upcoming games?
A: You’ve talked about the time zone differential – that’s for sure. We are trying to go through our schedule even today: I am speaking to the players who have been in the League the longest. They have the best feel about playing the game in Novosibirsk and then going to play in Khabarovsk so we have to pick the best way to go there and on what date we go there and at what time we arrive to be the best prepared for the game. The players are very receptive to give me their ideas and as coaches we have to always remember that the players play. So that’s the schedule we are trying to fix at the moment. Yury Makarov is excellent to work with. We are changing flights, we are changing hotels and today we’ll have our final schedule.
Q: At the last press conference you have told us that since Nils Ekman was out for awhile the team would need someone to score on shootouts you would have to work on that with other guys. Have you made up your mind what guys would that be?
A: We have some ideas, we’ve done some practice but then, again, it is different in practice form what it is in a game so we’ll have to see in our games.
Q: The main problem of SKA seems to be the problem of scoring and over the last few games it wasn’t uncommon for the team to score but once even though the team created great many scoring chances. We all know that scoring is crucial for playoffs. Naturally, during the training camp you must have been practicing scoring really hard. What did you manage to achieve so far? What ideas did you employ?
A: You are quite correct about created scoring chances – you must create scoring chances to score. There are some different moments to work on: you have the immediate rush, the immediate attack, you have a pass to the blue line and a shot from your defense, you have to play after the attack when you’re cycling maintaining the possession and you also have powerplay. So at practice we try to work on all the moments of scoring. Last game the guys scored six goals and the last time we played that team we scored zero goals – they beat us one nothing. So at least the puck went in. It is an ongoing practice – not just one day.
Q: In practice today the goalies were playing at such a great level that made scoring extremely difficult even when the guys were working on taking advantage of scoring chances. It either means that the goalies play extremely well or that the skaters have trouble scoring…
A: Actually our goalies are very good but it is good to work on good goalies because if you can beat them you can beat anybody. So perhaps if you could dress for practice with us we might have a chance to get some confidence to score some goals. I know you are a goalie.
Q: Have you made up your mind about the players you are not going to take with you on the road trip or any farm players you are going to take with you?
A: We are going to leave Sasha Scherbina. He is going to practice here the reason being that we will have very little practice time on this trip and we have three forwards that we can use. It is better for him to practice than come just to hang around and carry bags.
Q: Could you please tell us the names of those players who are not coming with you?
A: Nils Ekman will have to stay.
Q: I didn’t mean the players who are injured. What about Babenko?
A: Babenko is coming with us – he is 100% fine. So anybody who is 100% comes.
Q: What do you plan for Andrey Zyuzin?
A: We are hoping Zyuzin will play on this trip. It is important for him to start playing games because you can not just play in playoffs after sitting out for two months. So hope he will play this road trip.
Q: Will Zyuzin play in Game 1?
A: No, but he may play in Games 2 and 3.
Q: Do you already feel mentally aware that playoffs are at hand? What are your forecasts?
A: I have no forecast at the moment because these games are important for us as I spoke to you last month it is important how we play, what level do we play, what kind of physicality are we, what kind of health do we have – those are important issues. There is no magic as you approach the first playoff game and you jump up and play at your highest. I can say this to you honestly: every year in the NHL when we were in the playoffs the first round was the most difficult round and the most difficult team is the team that had to fight for life to get into playoffs. As you play them the first round – look out because they have already played one round of playoffs and that was just to get there.
Q: You have used a very illustrative comparison about players getting ready for an exam. As we know there are two types of students: there are those who may be very well prepared but do poorly in the actual exam (which has always been my case as a student) while there are also those who pass the exam even better than their actual preparedness may suggest. What kind of players SKA has more of?
A: I hope they are not like you.
Q: Could you please say a few words about each team SKA will have to play on the road trip?
A: Each team has different characteristics based on how they play in neutral zone, how aggressive they are forechecking and also important are their special teams. So we will study those particulars and we will try to find the best way to play against each team. Really, the most important thing is how WE play so if we can play our speed, our tempo and our game it gives us the best chance.

Tonight at the Main Arena of Yubileyny Sport Complex SKA played in an exhibition game with Dinamo Minsk winning 6:4

0:1 – 11.54 Huvenen, PS

1:1 – 14.24 Misko

1:2 – 28.57 Saulietis (Stas, Climer)

1:3 – 39.15 Mikhalev (Meleshko)

2:3 – 39.47 Kucheryavenko (Babenko, Scherbina)

3:3 – 46.43 Brylin (Gorovikov, Nemirovsky), PP

4:3 – 52.03 Nemirovsky (Gorovikov, Sushinsky)

5:3 – 56.35 Safronov (Brylin, Makarov)

5:4 – 57.17 Mikhalev (Andruschenko, Meleshko)

6:4 – 59.57 E. Korolev (Giroux), EN

Goaltenders: Esche (Yachanov – 40.00) – Chiodo

Barry Smith, the Head Coach of SKA, made some comments on the exhibition game:
- We started the game a little slow. I thought the second period even though we were losing we played extremely well, we had a lot of chances. And I thought the third period they scored some nice offensive goals, great chances still. The boys didn’t even panic when we gave up a goal – an easy goal on mistake – but we stayed in – it is a strong mentality and the boys are in a really good shape. It was a good look for an exhibition game – it was just what we needed. Plus it was nice to win again. We made some defensive mistakes; we gave up two-on-ones in a breakaway that we have to fix. It was nice to score six goals and we had a chance to use a lot of players – a good game in that aspect as we could see players in different blocks.

The upcoming home games of SKA vs. Kapitan-2 from Stupino scheduled for February 9 and 10 have been cancelled. Kapitan Hockey Club has officially notified SKA Ice Hockey Club that its farm club would not arrive to Saint-Petersburg to participate in the First League Championship games because of insurmountable financial difficulties. Therefore Kapitan-2 will get 2 technical losses of 5:0 each.
SKA-2 will play the next First League Tournament games at home on February 12 and 13 against Soviet Wings-2 from Moscow. The games will take place at DS Hockeyny at 13:00.

SKA continues to get ready for the remaining regular season games and of course for the playoffs. The team has daily practices at Yubileyny Sports Complex. The Head Coach of SKA Barry Smith shared his vision on the preparation with us:

- We have practice on the ice and off the ice – usually off-ice first – and we are doing exercises that we call hockey-specific. We are working on strength, speed, balance and core strength. With the on-ice practice we also have bicycle conditioning to work on the aerobic and also to take away the lactic acid buildups. Right now today it’s too bad we didn’t play – they are at high point today – it was a very good practice. But then again, if we played games at 11:30 in the morning we might be in the first place – it seems to be our best time.

On the upcoming exhibition game with Dinamo Minsk:
-It’s a perfect time for us to play as we need a game before we play our first game. We can take a look at the blocks we have together to see how they play and it’s good for the goalies to have an actual game situation.

Dear Fans!
Tickets for SKA-Metallurg Magnitogorsk game (Sunday, February 22, 17:00) are now available at the booking office of Yubileyny Sports Complex. The booking office is opened daily 11:00 till 19:00. Phone: +7 (812) 498 6033.
Welcome at the stands!

Dear Fans!
Tickets for SKA-Tractor (Tuesday, February 24, 19:00) and SKA-Salavat Yulayev (Thursday, February 26, 19:00) are now available at the booking office of Ledovy Ice Palace. The booking office is opened daily 11:00 till 20:00. Phone: +7 (812) 718 6620.
Welcome at the stands!

On Sunday February 8 SKA will play in an exhibition game with Dinamo Minsk. The game will take place at the Main Arena of Yubileyny Sport Complex at 17:00. Free entrance for all!
See you at the stands in Yubileyny!

On Thursday February 5 Barry Smith will answer your questions live on Radio Zenit (89,7FM) in Coaching Staff Radio Show. The Show will be on air at 18:00 till 19:00. Your questions are welcome at +7(812) 334 1897. Meet you on air!

Today in the First League Tournament roadtrip series game SKA-2 lost to Khimik-2 1:2. The only goal for SKA-2 was scored by Anton Tikhomirov. Yevgeny Ivannikov was tending the goal.

Mikhail Kravets, Head Coach of SKA-2:
- On the whole, I am quite content with the game as well as with the way all the four of our blocks played. In the first period two goals were scored against us by KHL players. Nevertheless the boys carried on playing our hockey and the second as well as the third period were spent by us in the offence zone. Unfortunately we could not score any more than one goal.

SKA Ice Hockey Club wishes Happy Birthday to the General Director of Eurochem Mineral and Chemical Company Dmitry Stepanovich Strezhnev!
Dear Dmitry Stepanovich, we heartily wish you health, happiness and good luck with all you endeavours!

Today SKA players had an off ice practice at Yubileyny Sport Complex. Barry Smith, the Head Coach of SKA commented: – we have told our players the practice would be “voluntary”. On Tuesday the entire team will get together and we will start getting ready for the final games of the Championship and the playoffs.

Please be reminded that on February 8 SKA will meet with Dinamo Minsk in an exhibition game at 17:00 on the Main Arena of Yubileyny Sport Complex.

Today in the First League Tournament roadtrip series game SKA-2 lost to Vityaz-2 3:4. Goals for SKA-2 were scored by Yaroslav Gorbachenko, Sergey Goncharov and Ilya Vozhdayev. Yevgeny Ivannikov was tending the goal.
Mikhail Kravets, Head Coach of SKA-2:
The game was similar to yesterday’s game. We were losing 2:0 and managed to tie. Then we again found ourselves catching up and tied again. But then the referee stepped in. Last night he refused to watch a game episode on video relling us it was not allowed by the Regulations. Tonight though he decided to watch a video and then allowed a goal against us. Very well… we will try to get our own back in Voskresensk. We’ve got to bring some points back home from a roadtrip series.

We wish a Happy Birthday to SKA Defenseman Aleksey Petrov!
Dear Aleksey, we wish you good luck, health and new victories playing for SKA!

We wish a very Happy Birthday to the Selection Coach of SKA Sergey Ivanovich Bobrov! Dear Sergey Ivanovich, we heartily wish you firm health, success and good luck with your work!