Razin: Metallurg won heroically after blowing 2:0 lead at Salavat

Metallurg head coach Andrei Razin said his side should not have let a 2:0 lead slip in the 4:3 win at Salavat Yulaev, and that the team then "won heroically".

"I thought the game would please the spectators. There were many goals, plenty of chances, and the goalkeepers played well. I believe we deserved the win today. Although at 2:0 you cannot turn a game upside down like that, we allowed it. Then we won heroically," Razin said.

Metallurg had 1 minute 33 seconds of 5-on-3 power play and did not score. "Nothing worked. We did not score on the 5-on-3. In theory there is a law of hockey: if you don't score on the 5-on-3, you lose. But today we were the exception to the rule," Razin said.

He attributed the game's turning points to emotion. "The honest answer is: that's hockey. Not everything can go to script. Emotions play a big part. For the home side they are always positive: the stands got loud straight away, and Salavat found a second wind. It was hard for us at that moment," he said.

Razin was also asked about his reaction on the bench after Salavat's second goal, scored by Rempal, and whether it came from Metallurg failing to clear the zone. "I am an emotional man. But in that episode, I can say honestly, I held myself back a great deal. At that moment I was angry with myself," he said.

Asked whether the Salavat goalkeeper had failed, Razin declined to comment on him. "My eyes today were on the other goalkeeper. And on our whole team." He said there were moments he wanted to work on, but that a win brings satisfaction, and that the pre-game analysis of Salavat had been deep.

Salavat parted with goalkeeper Ilya Konovalov by mutual agreement on 11 September, two days after he conceded seven goals in a 5:8 loss to Barys. Razin's answer leaves open how the crease held up for the hosts on Wednesday.