Oleg Tymchenko’s wards successfully played their first home match of the season.
Our team approached the first home game of the season with a slightly modified lineup. Huunonen appeared in net instead of Mölder, while the rest of the adjustments concerned the fourth line, where Danylo Baida took the spot of the third forward, and defenseman Shamardin, on the contrary, was absent.
Among the opponent’s newcomers, we should note two Finnish forwards: Lauri Huhdanpaa (Katowice, Poland) and Otto Karvinen (Jokerit, Finland), whom we overlooked in our preview. Both appeared in the top offensive line.
During the first half of the opening period, both teams failed to convert their two-minute power plays, but right at the start of the second half, the hosts took the lead. After a face-off in the Lithuanians’ zone, the puck ended up in Brants’ possession. Baltrunas was powerless against Harijs’s not-so-powerful shot.
With 40 seconds left before the first intermission, Oleg Tymchenko’s squad doubled their lead. Sarkanis sparked the Kyiv team attack and, following a combination with Svars and Sprukts, sent the puck into the top corner of Baltrunas’ net with a powerful shot.
At the start of the second 20-minute period, the hosts failed to convert what was already their third power play, but just 11 seconds after the teams returned to full strength, Kovalchuk opened his goal-scoring account for the season. Following a pass from behind the net by Morozov, Mykhailo beat Baltrunas short side with a powerful shot.
The third period began with the hosts capitalizing on a two-man advantage. Following Sarkanis, Korenchuk also scored his second goal of the season.
However, Huunonen failed to repeat Mölder’s achievement and record a shutout. Belicenka successfully played on the rebound, reducing the gap in the match to three goals. It lasted for only 33 seconds. A brilliant combination by the top line ended with a successful shot by Stradnieks into the opponent’s nearly empty net. For Kevins, this is also his second goal in his second game.
It also came down to sole leadership in the scoring race. Sarkanis broke away from three opponents at once and scored his third goal of the season with a shot off the post. Deivids even scored his third goal of the game, but it was waved off due to an offensive penalty.
Nevertheless, even without it, everything ended in a convincing victory for our team – 6:1. This win allowed them to earn four points and climb to third place.
Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Hockey Punks (Lithuania) – 6:1 (2:0; 1:0; 3:1)
Goals: 1:0 – Brants (Kovalchuk), 11:45; 2:0 – Sarkanis (Sprukts, Svars), 19:20; 3:0 – Kovalchuk (Morozov, Tsarkovskyi), 22:29; 4:0 – Korenchuk (Stradnieks, Sarkanis, – double power play), 40:16; 4:1 – Belicenka (42:44); 5:1 – Stradnieks (Sprukts, Sarkanis), 43:17; 6:1 – Sarkanis (Sprukts, Svars), 47:33.
Kyiv Capitals: Romi Huunonen; Pauls Svars – Harijs Brants, Gatis Sprukts (c) – Kevins Stradnieks – Deivids Sarkanis; Ville Rautiala – Jani Siekkinen, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Feliks Morozov – Danylo Tsarkovskyi; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Illia Korenchuk – Denys Honcharenko – Lukas Zukauskas; Anton Romanyshyn, Danylo Baida – Renars Cipruss – Kristians Zelts.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Hockey Punks: Simas Baltrunas; Benas Belicenka – Herkus Marcinkevicius, Lauri Huhdanpaa – Otto Karvinen – Ilja Cetvertak; Dominykas Motiejunas – Oleksandr Zaruba, Povilas Verenis – Laisvydas Kudrevicius – Timonas Mazulis; Kajus Zeynalov – Rokas Bacevicius (c), Martynas Slikas – Martynas Sulcas – Artem Redko; Nojus Jonas Kudzevicius – Mateusz Siekierka, Georgij Pavliukov – Ilja Gajauskas – Pijus Skalandis.
Head coach: Elmo Aittola
On Saturday, the representatives of Ukraine will face off on the road against the reigning league champions – Mogo/RSU.
