Ak Bars defenseman Ilya Karpukhin shared his thoughts ahead of the Gagarin Cup final series against Lokomotiv, weighing in on the emotional and physical state of both teams.
– Lokomotiv is riding a wave of emotion after an incredible semifinal. Will it be tough to stop such a team?
– It’s the final, anything can happen. Sure, they’re likely on an emotional high, but that shouldn’t worry or distract us right now. We need to focus not on the opponent first, but on ourselves—our game and our actions. Think about ourselves primarily. Their condition, mindset, and emotional state? Honestly, we don’t care.
– There’s always the dilemma: what’s better – being in game shape or getting rest?
– Well, now we’ll see and find out. It’s a double-edged sword. From a physiological standpoint, I think the advantage is ours. The human body has limited resources, so that should make a difference. They’ve rested less, we’ve rested more. We’ll see how it plays out, – said Karpukhin.
