In one of the most challenging matches of the season, Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team displayed exceptional skills, determination and celebraited the victory in match against their opponents.
Kyiv Capitals (Kyiv) – Kharkiv Berserks (Kharkiv) – 6:4 (1:3, 3:1, 2:0)
Pucks: 0:1 – Revuka (Horbunov, Bielik, majority), 02:16; 0:2 – Ol. Reziuk (Khalin, Duyun, the majority), 06:33; 0:3 – Osadchyi (Piddubnyi), 15:12; 1:3 – Kryvonozhkin (Berdniks, majority), 19:28; 2:3 – Kryvonozhkin (Sekirko, Oliynyk), 23:34; 2:4 – Bezuglyi (Bielik), 31:44; 3:4 – Berdniks (Kutsevych, Moksunen), 38:22; 4:4 – Kryvonozhkin (Dvornyk, Oliynyk), 39:06; 5:4 – Kryvonozhkin (Oliynyk, Moksunen), 43:58; 6:4 – Luhovyi (Taran, Oliynyk), 49:11.
Kyiv Capitals: Yaroslav Andriichuk (Boris Babik, 06:38); Kostiantyn Riabenko – Deniss Berdniks, Vladyslav Kutsevych – Serhii Chernenko (c) – Yaroslav Panchenko; Eetu Moksunen – Pavlo Taran, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Mykola Dvornyk – Mykyta Oliynyk; Valentyn Sirchenko – Oleksandr Koida, Vladyslav Luhovyi – Yevhen Sekirko – Danylo Tyshchenko; Tymur Lapko – Anton Sychynskyi
Head coach: Vadym Shakhraichuk
Kharkiv Berserks: Nazariy Sushak; Igor Horbunov – Anatolii Reziuk, Nikita Bielik – Yehor Bezuglyi (c) – Anatolii Revuka; Dmytro Klenov – Illia Pruskyi, Oleksandr Reziuk – Dmytro Khalin – Daniil Duyun; Andrii Obremskyi – Bohdan Piddubnyi, Valentyn Muryn – Taras Karnaukh – Denys Osadchyi; Oleg Ruzhytskyi – Daniil Mazur
Head coach: Pavlo Legachev
On the eve of Christmas, the teams prepared for a meeting filled with anticipation. Chernenko swiftly earned a withdrawal for Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team, allowing Berserks to take advantage of the situation and gain a double majority with the goalkeeper being removed. This advantage was soon capitalized on with Revuka’s impressive shot from a difficult angle.
In just under four minutes, Pavel Legachev’s team managed to double their lead. Berserks once again made the most of their majority, with Oleksandr Reziuk finishing off Duyun’s throw to score another goal. It was a cold shower for Kyiv team as they struggled to prevent the third puck from finding the back of their net. Babik, who had replaced Andriichuk with a score of 0:2, could not stop Osadchyi’s long throw.
At the end of the first period, the home team largely capitalized on the game. Kryvonozhkin netted his 12th goal of the season by skillfully redirecting the puck into the net following Berdniks’ shot. During the second period, Capitals briefly had a 5-on-3 advantage for 16 seconds but failed to convert it into a goal. Nevertheless, Kryvonozhkin displayed his prowess once again by scoring a brace, expertly targeting the opponent’s vulnerable area.
Special recognition should be given to Sushak for his outstanding performance as a keeper. Particularly during the second period, when team from Kyiv intensified their offensive actions. This greatly motivated his teammates, who, with a swift attack, successfully regained their two-goal lead. Bielik sprinted down the flank and delivered a pass to Bezuglyi, whose powerful shot forced Babik to concede for the second time. However, the opponents managed to equalize the score before the second break. Firstly, Berdniks scored a close-range goal after an excellent assist from Kutsevych. Then, Kryvonozhkin completed a hat trick, converting the efforts of Oliynyk and Dvornyk into a goal.
In the 44th minute of the game, the hosts took the lead for the first time. Oliynyk found Kryvonozhkin with a clever pass, and the Capitals`forward scored his 15th goal of the season, completing a poker.
Shortly after, the match ended prematurely for Andrii. He and Illia Pruskyfrom Berserks, were disqualified for the remainder of the game due to their altercation. However, this did not hinder the hosts from adding more pucks to their tally. Luhovyi increased Kyiv’s team advantage to two goals, and Oliynyk contributed another assist, marking his 21st assist in the championship.
Capitals had a thrilling final 10 minutes, launching a relentless attack. However, Sushak’s outstanding performance and the team’s inability to capitalize on their chances prevented them from extending their lead. Despite this, Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team secured a crucial victory, propelling them to the top of the standings ahead of Sokil. The next match for the team from Kyiv will take place on December 27 th when they will face Kremenchuk.
