Sergei Gomolyako, the former sporting director of Metallurg, offered his take on the first game of the Gagarin Cup final between Lokomotiv and Ak Bars, which ended 3-1 in Lokomotiv’s favor.
Asked whether the scoreline accurately reflected the play or if the result came as a surprise, Gomolyako dismissed any shock. “What surprise? Lokomotiv won at home,” he said. When pressed if the game was decided in 46 seconds of the second period, he agreed. “Yes, essentially it was. Those two quick goals in the second period shaped the outcome, though the game was largely even. Ak Bars even looked better at times, but they have to convert on the power play. They had plenty of chances but scored only through Miller in the third. In a final, you need to handle those situations more carefully and finish.”
Regarding how Ak Bars should bounce back from what some might call a knockout, Gomolyako rejected that characterization. “I wouldn’t call it a knockout. It’s just one game. I won’t give advice — there’s a very good coaching staff, with Zinetula Bilyaletdinov there. I’m confident Ak Bars will make adjustments and we’ll see a different game. I can’t say the team played poorly; they played well and even outplayed Lokomotiv in stretches. But it’s tough to come from behind when the other team is ahead. It would be great if the series goes to seven games. Nothing terrible has happened — it’s just one lost match. That’s nothing.”
