Maxim Dzhioshvili, a forward with Dinamo Moscow, assessed his team’s performance after the opening quarter-final game against Traktor. The veteran winger spoke to Sports Express, offering a frank view of how the match unfolded and what the Blue-Whites will need to change moving forward.
“Let’s be clear: it wasn’t a night filled with the goals we hoped to score. It started strong for them, with persistent pressure that yielded a goal early. They kept pressing and found a second goal, and while we did respond, the comeback never quite materialized. In a series, the higher-scoring side usually wins, and the challenge now is to push harder, push deeper, and keep sight of the end-goal. We need more contributions, a crucial goal, and the confidence to test the goalkeeper under pressure. We will find a way to reach those moments,” Dzhioshvili remarked.
In the March 16 clash, Dinamo fell 2-4, with Dzhioshvili and Eric O’Dell delivering the goals for the blue-and-white side. The result left Traktor ahead in the series 1-0 as they head into the next meeting.
The upcoming game is slated to take place in Moscow on March 18, where Dinamo Moscow will seek to even the series on home ice and reset the momentum. The stakes are high as the teams look to seize control of the matchup and set the tone for the remainder of the quarter-final series.
Beyond this pairing, the other quarter-final matchups feature Metallurg against Spartak, SKA facing Avtomobilist, and Lokomotiv meeting Avangard. Each series promises tight battles and crucial momentum shifts as teams chase a spot in the semifinals.
CSKA stands as the current Gagarin Cup champion. On its 100th anniversary, the club secured the title after defeating Ak Bars Kazan in a dramatic seventh game of the final series in 2023. With that milestone in the rearview, CSKA will not be a participant in this season’s cup race, but the legacy of prowess from the championship era remains a reference point for the league and its teams as they navigate this year’s playoff push.
Earlier conversations surrounding the quarter-finals highlighted several key matchups as particularly compelling, underscoring the high level of competition and the mounting drama as clubs push for the franchise’s ultimate prize. The action continues to unfold across arenas, with fans watching closely to see which teams can translate regular-season form into playoff success and which rising stars will become central figures in the chase for the Gagarin Cup.