Kozlov: Salavat Yulaev's 3-1 win over Spartak was fast and aggressive

Salavat Yulaev beat Spartak 3-1 at home in the Fonbet KHL Championship, and head coach Viktor Kozlov called it an end-to-end affair.

"Both teams play aggressive hockey. Everything is dynamic. Our video coach said he could not turn the camera fast enough, as the play moved from one zone to the other," Kozlov said. He backed the defensive shift.

Asked how to defend against Spartak, he said: "They have a good team. We had to spend a lot of energy winning the puck back and containing their forwards. Where we failed, Semyon Vyazovoi kept us in the game."

Danil Alalykin has scored four goals in four games. Kozlov was asked whether that was a pleasant surprise or a pattern. "He puts in the graft in training; the goals follow," he said.

Salavat Yulaev took only 2 penalty minutes. Kozlov was asked about Alexander Zharovsky's discipline. "A split-second decision. He needs to keep his stick down," he said.

Next is Metallurg. Kozlov said Kuznetsov is fit again and "itching to play", but would not commit: "We will think about the line-up."