Reaction after playing Finland in the Czech Republic

Following the second match of the fourth stage of the 2020/2021 Euro Hockey Tour against Finland (1:3), senior Russian national team head coach Valeri Bragin and defensemen Yegor Yakovlev and Grigory Dronov all shared their opinions:

Head coach Valeri Bragin:

- We played a lot better in the second period than in the first, we had an advantage in terms of the play. Sloppy goals in the third frame resulted in this defeat. We will make decisions concerning the squad for the World Championship after playing against the Czech Republic, that game will be the telling one for us. Why are we conceding goals at the start of the third periods of matches? It's tough to say right now, but we will analyse this. Our goalkeeping issue? Ivan Fedotov will start against the Czechs, and then we will see who will be the starting goaltender for the World Championship. We're also planning for Mikhail Grigorenko to play on Saturday. Sergei Tolchinsky? He is ill with a bad cold at the moment.

Defenseman Yegor Yakovlev:

- It was difficult for us, we aren't used to playing two matches in two days. It was hot at the arena, and the ice isn't of the best quality. Nevertheless, the Finns were in the same boat as us. We conceded poor goals. It's good that this is happening now, though, we have enough time to fix our mistakes before the World Championship subsequently begins.

Defenseman Grigory Dronov:

- Personally, I think that I landed a clean hit, the last time when I saw a referee make that gesture was back in school! The NHL players are coming? The competition within the team will naturally rise as a consequence, all of us will try to show our best ice hockey to make the squad.