Kozlov on Salavat's 3-1 Win at Dynamo: Panin Out for Family Reasons

He was pleased with the finish.

"We don't know when Panin will join us. He didn't travel for family reasons," Kozlov said, and explained that this allowed the club to try different players as captain. "Today the armband was with Rempal, in the next game we'll give it to someone else."

Zagrebin had a first goal ruled out. "Zagrebin is a big boy. I said nothing to him after the disallowed puck," Kozlov said. "Let Max keep working hard and the goals will come anyway."

Asked how he planned to use goalkeeper Nikita Bogdanov while Vyazovoy is playing, Kozlov said there is a plan for when Bogdanov will be used. "In North America goalkeepers often play every game, Andrei Vasilevsky included. Vyazovoy should be able to do that too. He has potential and natural ability," he said.

Gleb Kuzmin is still on an individual training programme. "When he recovers, we'll decide where he starts, either at Toros or with us," Kozlov said.

If Dynamo's scoring does not pick up, Korostelev's own reading, that the problem is finishing and not fatigue, will be tested quickly, with 10 points from 10 games leaving little room in the Western Conference.