"CSKA cannot be at the bottom of the standings"

The first matches of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2026 were held on January 3-5. Its regular season has been on hiatus since December 30 due to the New Year. One of the main confrontations in early January was the meeting between CSKA Moscow and the current Gagarin Cup winner Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. After a 1-1 draw in regular time and overtime, the Railwaymen won 2-1 and continue to be among the leaders of the Western Conference. The Army team is still only sixth, but this is serious progress, since a little over a month ago they were on the ninth line outside the playoff zone.

Now Igor Nikitin's team is more confidently positioned in the top eight of the conference, which gives a ticket to the Gagarin Cup. In an interview with Izvestia, CSKA striker Kirill Dolzhenkov assessed the state of the team, commented on the first game of the year and explained why the improvement in results in recent weeks has not become calmer.

— You started 2026 with a home defeat against Lokomotiv. If you don't take into account the final result, were you satisfied with the quality of your team's game?

— The result is always more important. But the quality of the game was good — there were two strong teams, two very powerful teams. In principle, it was an equal match, as evidenced by the fact that it ended in a draw after regular time and overtime, and the winner was determined only in a shootout. But, I repeat, the result is the main thing. And it was necessary to win. Unfortunately, we did not succeed.

— Before the New Year, CSKA won three matches in a row and, as it seemed, gained momentum. Is the defeat against Lokomotiv particularly offensive in this regard?

— I'll repeat myself: we played well in this match. And whether we have maintained the pace that we gained at the end of December, we will see in the next game against Dinamo Minsk. Apart from the five—day break for the New Year, we actually play quite a lot - we have matches every other day. And only over a long distance will we be able to understand and evaluate how we are going through the tournament, how well we are ready now.

— At the end of November, CSKA was outside the playoff zone and looked very weak in terms of the game. Can we say that over the past month or more, the team has dramatically improved the quality of hockey?

— We try to add from game to game. We try to follow the coaching instructions. Everyone in our team understands that a club like CSKA cannot be at the bottom of the standings. That's why we're trying to straighten things out.

"We are all required to play for the team"

CSKA hockey player Denis Guryanov — on the instructions of the coaching staff and the results of the current KHL season

— Is it calmer now that you are already confidently staying in the playoff zone?

— It didn't get any calmer. Generally.

— How high do you need to rise in the regular season table to make you happy?

— There is no limit. You just have to tune in and win every game. And then we'll see.

— Is there any minimum bar regarding the place in the table where CSKA should finish the regular season? For example, a place in the top 4 of the Western Conference and the advantage of your ice in the first round of the playoffs?

— There is no such bar.

— When CSKA lost 1-4 at home to SKA at the peak of its crisis at the end of November, Igor Nikitin harshly stated at the post-match press conference that you don't have a team at the moment. Based on the results of the past month, can we say that it already exists?

— I repeat: We try to win every game. We tune in to every game as much as possible. Maybe that's why the team appears.