The head coach of "Metallurg" praised the coach of "Torpedo," Alexey Isakov.

      April 14, 2026 17:03 Sports The head coach of "Metallurg," Andrey Razin, praised the coach of Nizhny Novgorod's "Torpedo," Alexey Isakov, at the post-match conference. The specialists are well acquainted with each other from their joint work at Saratov's "Crystal," which competes in the VHL. At that time, Razin was the head coach, and Isakov held the position of team manager. This season, their rivalry has been emotional. In October, "Torpedo" hosted "Metallurg" as part of the regular championship. The Magnitogorsk team won 5:1, and the match was remembered for a large number of scuffles. After the final siren, the tension did not subside. In the mixed zone, a heated conversation occurred between Razin and Isakov, and they nearly came to blows, with team staff intervening. Just a day later, the rivals met again in Magnitogorsk. However, there was no continuation of the conflict. Both specialists later emphasized that there were no lingering grievances. On April 13, the third match of the Gagarin Cup quarterfinal series took place in Nizhny Novgorod. "Metallurg" won and took a 3:0 lead in the series. At the post-match press conference, Razin stated that he was impressed by Isakov's career path. "On the contrary, I praised him. I didn't know Isakov when I worked with him in Saratov, neither as a hockey player nor as a coach. He worked as an administrator in our team. I am amazed by his career: from administrator to coach, having gone through all the stages. In our structure in Saratov, there were only six people, including the coaching staff. He was both the team manager and the administrator there. I just didn't know his specific position. Alexey is doing great. He has risen from such a low starting position to become a KHL coach. I believe he is a very successful coach. With a team of such a budget, he made it to the top eight teams in the league," Razin said. Earlier, Alexey Isakov commented on the preparation for the fourth match of the series against "Metallurg." NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.