Nikitin on Victory in Kazan: Were Not in a Position to Share Secrets

The head coach of CSKA, Igor Nikitin, shared his thoughts on the victory over Ak Bars (4:1), highlighting the team’s effective play while short-handed as a pivotal moment in the match.

«The decisive moment was our ability to battle through while being outnumbered, which allowed us to score and gain confidence in ourselves. We realized we can perform well in any situation. A strong penalty kill starts with the goaltender; this is a general principle that applies beyond just our team.

Starting from the second period, we executed our game plan effectively and played good hockey. We’re not in a position to reveal any secrets. This was a collective victory. We succeeded through teamwork, where support is key, enabling us to stop players like Mitchell Miller. Teamwork is essential,» Nikitin’s comments are reported by Championship correspondent Rustam Imamov.