Oleg Tymchenko’s wards extended their winning streak to four games.
The Kyiv team started their second match against the Riga squad in three days with minor changes to the roster. Following a long recovery, Olegs Sislannikovs was included in the matchday lineup for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Shamardin was left out of the squad. The now-traditional goaltender rotation also continued, with Mölder taking his place in net.
Our team didn’t take long to get going, taking the lead four minutes into the game. Following a point shot from Andreykiv, Stradnieks made a stylish pass to Sarkanis, who found the open corner of Skrebutens’ net. Consequently, the September MVP added a goal in today’s match to his four assists from Wednesday.
Despite end-to-end action, neither team managed to alter the scoreline before the first intermission. The strong performances of Mölder and Skrebutens played a significant role in keeping the score tight.
However, in the 21st minute of the game, the guests doubled their lead. Sarkanis hit the milestone of 20 points for the season by setting up Jansons, who burst into the opponent’s zone and, battling against Jerofejev, managed to send the puck past Skrebutens.
The pressure on the Riga squad’s net intensified following a penalty to Zitserman, but Eriks Miluns’ wards managed to hold out.
Our opponents also failed to capitalize on a 5×4 power play, but midway through the second period, the Latvians managed to narrow the gap. The Kyiv team left Locmelis completely unmarked in front of their net, and the Prizma/RTU forward beat Mölder with a powerful shot.
The hosts failed to convert their next power play as well. What’s more, Kyiv Capitals scored shorthanded for the first time this season. Andreykiv caught Skrebutens off guard with a heavy shot from medium range, tallying his second point of the night.
Early in the third period, the guests once again struck quickly against Prizma/RTU’s net, scoring twice in rapid succession. Sarkanis secured a brace with a sharp-angle shot, while Sislannikovs scored his debut goal for Kyiv Capitals, being first to the rebound off his own shot. Eriks Miluns immediately brought on Eldmanis to replace Skrebutens.
The hosts also managed to score shorthanded. Vitols intercepted the puck and successfully executed a breakaway that he created single-handedly, beating Mölder one-on-one.
Jansons decided not to fall behind Sarkanis and completed his own brace. Deivids passed back to the defenseman, who fired a powerful shot from the blue line into the corner of Eldmanis’ net. Remarkably, exactly half of the Kyiv`s team goals were scored by their first defensive pairing.
Stradnieks also got on the scoresheet, finishing off a cross-crease pass from Andreykiv. Tsarkovskyi put the final nail in the coffin, recording his 13th point (8+5) in head-to-head encounters against Prizma/RTU. Meanwhile, Andreykiv emerged as the stat leader of the match, racking up an impressive 6 points (1+5).
Thus, Oleg Tymchenko’s team dealt with the Riga squad even more convincingly and moved to the top of the standings with 12 points.
Prizma/RTU (Latvia) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 2:8 (0:1; 1:2; 1:5)
Goals: 0:1 – Sarkanis (Stradnieks, Andreykiv), 04:06; 0:2 – Jansons (Sarkanis, Sprukts), 20:23; 1:2 – Locmelis (Jekimovs), 30:58; 1:3 – Andreykiv (Kovalchuk, – shorthanded), 35:45; 1:4 – Sarkanis (Stradnieks, Andreykiv), 43:05; 1:5 – Sislannikovs (Korenchuk, Begovs), 43:28; 2:5 – Vitols (shorthanded), 45:59; 2:6 – Jansons (Sarkanis, Andreykiv), 51:01; 2:7 – Stradnieks (Andreykiv), 58:08; 2:8 – Tsarkovskyi (Kovalchuk, Andreykiv), 59:48.
Prizma/RTU: Arturs Skrebutens (Martins Eldmanis, 43:28); Aleksandr Jerofejev – Kirils Vasiļjevs, Emils Locmelis – Kristaps Riekstins – Roberts Jekimovs (c); Krists Apsitis – Italo Milbergs, Michael Mizerak – Roberts Vitols – Ricards Stamurs; Arturs Tomsons – Arturs Apfelbaums, Toms Barens – Kristers Bormanis – Viktors Klabis; Alens Stendembergs – Deniss Kornilovs, Nikita Zitserman – Dmitrijs Zaharovs – Gustavs Alberts Moruzs.
Head coach: Eriks Miluns
Kyiv Capitals: Conrad Mölder; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Gatis Sprukts (c) – Kevins Stradnieks – Deivids Sarkanis; Pauls Svars – Harijs Brants, Illia Korenchuk – Olegs Sislannikovs – Rustams Begovs; Ville Rautiala – Jani Siekkinen, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Renars Cipruss – Kristians Zelts; Anton Romanyshyn, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Lukas Zukauskas.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Our team will play its next game in exactly one week. On their home rink, Kyiv Capitals will face Zemgale/LBTU.
