"We need to take character from the CSKA that won the Gagarin Cup"

In the KHL playoffs, the quarterfinal series are coming to an end, and two of them ended as quickly as possible — with a score of 4:0. Lokomotiv passed Salavat Yulaev, and Ak Bars coped with Dinamo Minsk. The series continues between Metallurg and Torpedo, as well as Avangard and CSKA, where the fifth matches are scheduled.

Omsk won the first three matches (3:0; 3:2; 3:2 FROM) and were close to reaching the semifinals, but the Army team narrowed the gap by winning at home (3:1). The fifth game will take place on April 16: the victory of Avangard will end the series, the success of CSKA will lead to the sixth match in Moscow and, possibly, the seventh — again in Omsk.

In an interview with Izvestia, red-blue striker Prokhor Poltapov assessed the progress of the series, told what the team can learn from the experience of winning the Gagarin Cup in 2023, and commented on the impact of the absence of a link partner Vitaly Abramov.

— What has CSKA improved in comparison with the first three matches of the series?

— We just started playing a little more actively. And I want the puck more. I don't think anything has changed dramatically in our game. But these nuances were improved, and it brought victory.

— With each match, your team was losing less and less in the score and the game to the opponent, and now it began to win. Is this a consequence of your growth, or has Avangard started to sink somewhere?

— It seems to me that our whole team is gradually growing over the course of this series and in general during this playoffs. So it's more like we're adding. It's about our growth, the team as a whole and each player individually.

— In the 18 years of the KHL's existence, only once has a series been won by a team losing 0:3. What will you need to do now to get past Avangard after such a bad start?

— Just tune in well for the next match. Now every match can be the last of the season. And that's how you need to treat him, giving yourself completely to the game.

— The fourth match against Avangard was the most productive in the series for your three with Vitaly Abramov and Maxim Sorkin, who scored two goals. Did the fact that the coaching staff removed Abramov from the squad for the third game affect you in any way?

— No, basically Vitaly came back and played great. He proved everything in the fourth match. Maybe the coaching staff decided to give him a break in the last game, I don't know... But Vitaly doesn't drop out of the game — I like how he showed himself. I made two assists, which makes me happy.

"One should always strive for the ideal"

HC CSKA goalkeeper Alexander Samonov — about the goals for the season, the team's results in the KHL and the competition for the position of the main goalkeeper of the army

— Was the last match the best for your team in this playoff?

— I hope we will have even better games.

— When we conceded the decisive goal from Avangard in overtime of the third match, did you feel that this series could not be saved?

- no. The coaching staff did a good job with us on the weekend between these games. So there was nothing like what you're talking about.

— Many consider Avangard to be the favorite of the current playoffs. Does he make that impression on you?

— We're watching our game. It doesn't matter what the opponents are doing there. The main thing is that we play as well as possible.

— You are one of those who won the Gagarin Cup with CSKA in 2023, when the team took a lot at the expense of character, pulled out hopeless series. What needs to be moved from there to the current playoffs in order to extend the series with Omsk?

— The same character. But I wasn't there in 2022, when the team was pulling an almost lost streak into the playoffs.

— Yes, in 2022, in the Gagarin Cup final, CSKA beat Metallurg 4-3 without you. But even with you in 2023, the trophy was won largely due to character — you went through all four rounds following the results of seven-match series.

— But then how many years has the team been in that composition? By that time, she had already won two Gagarin Cups. She had such an experience! And now we are just gaining this experience. Therefore, you just need to show character and look at those guys who stayed at CSKA from the period when they pulled out matches and series.