"It's hard for everyone, and we're all on equal terms"

The KHL is in the midst of the final playoff series. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Ak Bars Kazan played two matches and won once each. Both meetings were held on the home ice of the railwaymen, where at first the hosts won big 4:1, and then defeated 5:1. Now the series is moving to Kazan, where the third and fourth matches will be held on May 15 and 17. In an interview with Izvestia, Ak Bars striker Mikhail Fisenko explained how his team improved after an unsuccessful first match, and told how the players were affected by moving by train from Kazan to Yaroslavl.

— What key changes in your team's game helped us improve in the second match?

— We played a more balanced game. We got off to a good start, and then we tried to play the whole game smoothly.

— Can the problems of the first match be attributed to the fact that you had a longer break between the semifinals and the finals than Lokomotiv, because they beat Avangard in seven matches, and you won the series against Metallurg after five meetings?

— No, we don't pay attention to that. Both we and the opponent have already played many matches in this playoff. And it's not clear which of us has it harder when. It's hard for everyone. So everything is on an equal footing.

— Considering how Lokomotiv saved the matches in the semifinals with Avangard, losing 0:2 and 1:3, was it especially important not to lose concentration when they scored the first goals in the second game?

— Yes, we followed the opponent, including during his last series. We sorted it out, just like the teams we played in the previous playoff rounds. We know how Lokomotiv plays, how they know how to fight to the end. But we disassembled it well enough. And we tried to play against him as carefully as possible.

— What needs to be done to maintain the level of play and concentration that helped Ak Bars equalize the score for the entire series?

— Play the same way you played. As collected and balanced as possible. The way we did it in the previous rounds. And just like we did in the second match of the final against Lokomotiv.

— This is your second Gagarin Cup final in your career. What are the similarities and differences with the 2019 finals, when you played against CSKA as part of Avangard?

— It's hard to say that and compare it. It's been a long time since that finale. We are here and now. And all my thoughts are just about the current finale.

— Ak Bars had an unsuccessful start to this season, but began to improve closer to the playoffs, and now it has surprised many with its entry into the finals. Why has the team changed so much in six months?

— What's the point of talking about it now? We are already in the finals, in the decisive series. The last steps are left. Now we don't remember what happened. Especially in September. It doesn't make sense. Everything is already the most important thing here.

— Due to the difficulties with the airport, your team traveled from Kazan to Yaroslavl by train. Does it affect you physically and emotionally?

"No, it's okay. We have already adapted to this. No complications. We drove at night, slept, arrived in the morning. It shouldn't affect us.