"We don't need a strong team attitude — we come out charged ourselves"

Dynamo Moscow's hockey players have one more regular season match left. They had already secured the second place in the Western Conference and lost their chances to take the first, so Friday's home defeat by the winner of the regular season, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (1-4) had no tournament significance. In the first round of the playoffs, Alexei Kudashov's team will face either SKA St. Petersburg or Severstal Cherepovets.

Interestingly, in the last match of the regular season, Dynamo will have to play away against Severstal. If the blue and white team fails to win in Cherepovets in regular time, then Severstal will finish the tournament no lower than sixth place, and SKA will remain seventh, which will fall to Dynamo. In an interview with Izvestia, Dynamo forward Dmitry Rashevsky summed up the results of the regular season, told how important it is to win the last match, and also shared his expectations for the playoffs and talks about the match between the KHL and NHL teams, which was discussed in a recent conversation between the presidents of Russia and the United States.

— How seriously did you manage to tune in to the match with Lokomotiv, given that the game had no tournament significance for either him or you?

— Anyway, we were excited for this game. It's a shame that we lost. But that's okay — we're moving on.

— In such matches, when they have no tournament significance, is it tempting to start avoiding injuries before the playoffs by not rushing too fanatically under the pucks and engaging in a power struggle?

— No, we didn't even have such a conversation. Everyone played against Lokomotiv as in a regular match, when you definitely need to score points. That's why it wasn't what you're talking about. Yes, we couldn't win, but we really wanted to win.

— On the eve of the last regular season match, when you know your two potential playoff rivals, is there much motivation to beat Severstal in regular time in order to avoid getting to SKA in the first round?

— We are not going to avoid anyone or anything. We will try to win every match. And then it's as it turns out. We don't care who we start the playoffs with, SKA or Severstal. But in Cherepovets we will go out on the ice and fight for victory. We need this victory on its own, regardless of which opponent we might have in the first round. We don't look at who we can hit, the main thing is just to win.

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— Is there already an understanding of how to play with these teams in the first round?

— Dynamo has played with both of these teams many times in the regular season. We've studied them, and they've studied us too. Maybe there will be some small tactical changes in the playoffs, but nothing out of the ordinary will happen. The operation will continue in the same mode.

— Are you satisfied with your performance in the last part of the regular season?

— I played normally. I could have done better if I had toned up a little earlier. I'm usually already in good shape in October. But that's not what happened this season, because there was a long pause between the departure from the last playoffs and the start of the new championship - six months without big hockey. A little later, I was able to get into a rhythm. If I had entered earlier, I could have played even more effectively. I need to get my preparations for the season a little better. But in general, I will evaluate this regular schedule satisfactorily for myself.

— Is the team's result satisfactory?

— From the point of view of the team result, yes. Even a good result.

— Do you feel that you are reaching the peak of your form for the playoffs?

— We have a normal physical condition. Everything is in good condition. The guys are feeling well.

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— In the last month, Dynamo has won a number of bright victories over top teams — Lokomotiv won at home and away (3:1 and 5:3), snatched an away victory over SKA in the end. Is that how you want to play in the playoffs?

— We don't need a strong team attitude — we come out charged ourselves. And we have problems with the teams from the bottom of the table this season, if you look at the statistics. But I don't think anyone needs to say anything or motivate anyone in the playoffs. Everyone understands everything by themselves, so we will try to show our best game.

— The problems with the teams from the bottom of the table have now naturally disappeared until next season, since these rivals did not qualify for the playoffs.

— Yes, yes (smiles).

— It recently became known that during Putin's talks with Trump, the idea of holding a match between the KHL and NHL teams was discussed.

— That's great. I will only be glad if this match goes ahead. I think I'll watch it on TV.

— Why is it on TV? Won't you participate?

— I don't know, let's see. The probability is extremely low.

— Don't you believe in yourself at all?

— I am a realist (smiles).