Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team suffered a defeat against Dnipro second time during the season.
Dnipro (Kherson) – Kyiv Capitals (Кyiv) – 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Pucks: 1:0 – Sydorenko (Kryklia, Ratushnyi, majority), 06:59; 2:0 – Kryklia (Sydorenko, Stetsiura), 23:56; 3:0 – Kryklia (Ratushnyi, Sydorenko, e.g.), 58:39
Dnipro: Eduard Zakharchenko; Hlib Varava – Yevhen Ratushnyi, Mykyta Sydorenko – Illia Kryklia – Serhii Stetsiura; Valentyn Alexiuk – Anton Stotskyi, Mykhailo Tsiura – Nikita Liesnikov – Illia Shcherbak; Artem Portnoy – Rasim Abdullaiev, Dmytro Mosiuk – Serhii Poimanov – Dmytro Sapozhnyk; Ruslan Boyko – Kyrylo Bortnikov, Arsen Oliynyk – Dmytro Kobylnyk – Ivan Omelchuk
Head coach: Oleksandr Bobkin
Kyiv Capitals: Boris Babik; Kostiantyn Riabenko – Denis Berdniks, Vladyslav Kutsevych – Serhii Chernenko (c) – Yaroslav Panchenko; Eetu Moksunen – Pavlo Taran, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Mykola Dvornyk – Mykyta Oliynyk; Valentyn Sirchenko – Danylo Babchuk, Vladyslav Luhovyi – Yevhen Sekirko – Danylo Tyshchenko; Tymur Lapko – Anton Sychynskyi, Yehor Bezuhlyi – Oleksandr Koida
Head coach: Vadym Shakhraichuk
In their third encounter this season, Capitals faced Dnipro, but this time they traveled to Odesa. The hosts were not welcoming, as they took the lead in the seventh minute through a quick conversion during a power play. Sirchenko received a penalty, allowing the Kherson team to gain possession. Ratushnyi then passed the puck to Sydorenko, who successfully scored against Babik for the first time in this match.
During the following two minutes while playing with a disadvantage, Capitals had a chance to equalize. However, Luhovyi failed to beat Zakharchenko, and Moksunen’s shot hit the post. The guests later had an opportunity to regain control while playing in majority, but the score remained unchanged throughout the first period.
At the beginning of the second period, Dnipro managed to double their lead with the help of their first line of attack. Stetsiura hit the post after receiving a cross from Sydorenko, and Kryklia was quick to capitalize, scoring the second goal. Oliynyk and Sekirko had outstanding opportunities to make an impression for the visiting team, but Zakharchenko’s successful actions allowed his team to maintain the lead until the final period.
Despite their efforts, Capitals were unable to turn the tide, and in the last two minutes, Vadym Shakhraichuk made the decision to remove Babik, creating a six-player game. Unfortunately for the Capitals, Kherson team took advantage of this situation. Kryklia made a successful interception and sent the puck into the undefended net, securing a double for their team.
This marked the first time this season that the Kyiv team failed to score, conceding one goal in each period. Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team retained their second-place position with 41 point, while Oleksandr Bobkin’s team earned their 34th point, holding onto fourth place.
The Capitals’ next game is scheduled for January 18th against Berserks-Patriot. Meanwhile, Dnipro will face off against Kremenchuk a day earlier.
