"Conceding seven or eight goals per match is unacceptable"

During the May holidays, the hockey players of the Russian national team held a traditional tour for this period, which they have been scheduled for the fourth year in a row, after the suspension of our team and Belarus from international competitions. First, in Astana, Roman Rotenberg's team won against Kazakhstan with a score of 4:1. Then they lost to Belarus (2:4). And then I played three more games with the Belarusians. First, our team lost to them twice in Tolyatti — 7-8 in overtime and 1-3 in regular time. And only in the last game in Minsk we won 3:1. In an interview with Izvestia, Ilya Karpukhin, defender of the Russian national team and SKA St. Petersburg, shared his impressions of the last round, spoke about the emotions of the abundance of goals in the Tolyatti match and assessed the chances of his former club— Traktor Chelyabinsk, in the upcoming Gagarin Cup final against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

"Last December, the game with them was bone to bone"

— On this tour, Roman Rotenberg's updated headquarters in the national team and SKA worked with the Russian national team. In particular, Maxim Semenov, who transferred from Lada, is responsible for defenders and the minority, and Evgeny Ketov is also responsible for the minority. Are you feeling any changes?

— In general, it works well. Everyone at our headquarters is a professional in their field. If we talk about the minority, then both coaches are chewing everything out for us, introducing a new system compared to last season. And they explain all the details to us. There are constant theoretical classes with videos. In general, I still feel comfortable in the new combinations inside the headquarters.

— What are the reasons for the failures in the matches against Belarus?

— There are no specific reasons for this. There are always a number of reasons for such failures. Details and minutiae decide a lot. If there was any one too obvious reason, an obvious failure for us, then we would eliminate it immediately. But all the minor flaws combined to lead to this result in three matches.

— Can we say that defeats in matches against such a Belarus are even useful in some ways, do they allow you to see your shortcomings long before returning to the international arena?

— I don't know, I haven't thought about it. We always set ourselves up to win every match. And the goals for all the games with Belarus were the same. There were no secondary objectives — we just wanted to win wherever we played. Therefore, naturally, we are unhappy with these defeats. It's good that we won the last match.

— What emotions did the overtime defeat by the Belarusians with a score of 7:8 in one of the matches in Tolyatti evoke?

— From the fans' point of view, it's fun and interesting. They come to the stands to see the goals. As many heads as possible. So for those who personally watched this ball in Tolyatti, it was probably interesting. For us hockey players, it is unacceptable to concede seven or eight goals in one match. We will try not to repeat this again.

— In December, you played for the Russian national team at the Channel One Cup in St. Petersburg, when the match with Belarus was also difficult, but still ended with your victory. How has the opponent improved since then?

— It's hard to formulate. But it is obvious that Belarusians are increasing every year. Although, plus or minus, they play the same hockey game. It is clear that when they are in optimal composition, they are very difficult to deal with. Just like with Kazakhstan, which we beat in Astana in this round. It is noticeable that this team was preparing very seriously for the World Cup. And Belarusians are playing better and better from year to year. I remember how difficult it was to play with them at the Channel One Cup the year before last. And at the last Channel One Cup in December last year, the game with them was bone to bone. The games on the May tour are also difficult and intense.

"Two system teams will meet in the Gagarin Cup final"

— You can complain that your native Tractor has made life difficult for you. If he hadn't beaten Dinamo Minsk in the second round of the KHL playoffs, would the players of the Belarusian club have continued to play in the Gagarin Cup during the May holidays and not gone to the national team?

— Maybe, maybe (laughs).

— How do you like the atmosphere at the matches?

— Great atmosphere. People in Tolyatti are always very sick, and you can see it at KHL matches when we go there. And we were well supported at the national team matches — thanks a lot to the local public. The matches themselves were also well organized. As, however, it always does when our national team plays in the regions. In Astana and Minsk, too, everything is usually at the highest level. The stands are full, the atmosphere is great — it's nice to play like this.

— Your native Tractor has reached the Gagarin Cup final. How did you react to the success of the team you played for less than six months ago?

— I am very happy for the guys and for the club. They're having a great season in general and the playoffs in particular. I am also glad for the city. Chelyabinsk lives by hockey, people love Traktor and always fill the stands. They deserved to see the Gagarin Cup final live at home. Moreover, Traktor has not played in it for 12 years. I would like to wish him good luck.

— Does Lokomotiv have a chance to win the final?

— It's hard to say. I think the finale will be interesting and challenging. Two system commands will meet. It will be extremely interesting to watch their competition. It is difficult to name a favorite. Yes, Lokomotiv won the regular season, but Traktor became the second in it. Both teams won their conferences. And it is impossible to name the best of them in advance — this will determine the final.

— Why is Traktor constantly winning in this playoff, losing 0-3 and 0-4 during the match? During the first half of the season, when you were inside the team, did you see her ability to make such saves?

— I don't know. It all happened already in the playoffs, when I was no longer on the team. Probably, it's just that everyone at Traktor believes in themselves to the last and believes in victory. Even when things aren't going well for them.