Isayev: We gave everything to win

Lokomotiv goalie Daniil Isayev was named playoff MVP after backstopping his team to a second Gagarin Cup. He had 16 win and five shut-outs in 22 games, stopping 93.1% of shots. After the game, Isayev spoke to journalists.

— How does it feel to win the cup again?
— There are no emotions left. We gave everything to win out there. 

— Do you remember 2009 and the first Gagarin Cup final between Lokomotiv and Ak Bars?
— I’d remember it if I was there, but I was only nine years old! I’m sure that for our fans, for the city, for everyone who has followed the team all these years, that memory made tonight even more special. 

— Did you expect to be chosen as MVP?
— It’s great! I’m delighted to win an individual award, but the big thing is winning the Gagarin Cup. 

— Which Lokomotiv player would you have picked as MVP? 
— Everyone! But if it had to be one, then Alexander Radulov, like last year. He deserves it, he does so much work, he leads the room. His example sets the tone for us all. 

— What was the key moment in the series?
— Those 33 seconds in the series in Omsk where we really showed our character [to save game six of the series with two late goals and force game seven in overtime]. 

— Why did that series turn out a bit uneven for you personally?
— It just did. There’s no rhyme or reason. I made a couple of bad errors but give credit to Avangard. They played really well around the net, took my eyes away, got to rebounds. They earned those errors. I didn’t have any problems at that time. My wife was pregnant during the playoffs and gave birth to a son on May 2, the day we won 4-0 and started the comeback [from 1-3 in the series]. It wasn’t easy to concentrate on the game, but I tried to give it everything. 

— Can Lokomotiv win a third successive cup? 
— There’s always a chance. But only if we do the right things. If we work and if we stay hungry we’re capable of doing it again.