March 26th, 18:00, Kyiv, Arena Chalette. Broadcast: YouTube Setanta Sports
After an 11-day break, Vadym Shakhraychuk’s team is returning to the fight in the championship and will play in debut final. The series with Storm-Odesa consisted of four games, so our team had plenty of time to rest.
On the other hand, Kremenchuk started their series well, winning three games in a row (two of them on the ATEK), but then Sokil reduced the gap to a minimum. However, at the Iceberg Arena, Kremenchuk didn`t miss their chance to qualify for the final for the fourth time in a row. Interestingly, both opponents knocked out the current holders of national trophies – Sokil (Ukrainian champion) and Storm-Odesa (Ukrainian Cup winner).
It is worth noting that the best snipers in the previous stage for the Capitals were Serhii Chernenko (3 goals + 4 assists) and Yaroslav Panchenko (2 goals + 5 assists). Meanwhile, our newcomer Yang Hu managed to score the biggest number of goals (four).
As about Andrii Sriubko’s players, their series with Sokil was less productive, so his team’s strikers scored two goals each. However, the best assistant was Hlib Krivoshapkin, thanks to whose passes the attacks of Kremenchuk reached the goal six times.
Let’s also talk about the statistics of face-to-face meetings. We can mention that on the eve of the start of the cup battles, the rivals met in Kremenchuk, where Capitals were able to defeat the opponents for the first time, ending the friendly match with a 7:3 victory.
Official face-to-face meetings were filled with a variety of moments. Let’s start with the fact that the statistics in their favor in the championship were 4:2 for Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team. The biggest score difference (3:0) was recorded twice at the Chalette Arena, and as a result of these meetings, Nick Vilardo and Nazar Boiko each registered a shutout.
In the end, the most productive match was also held in Kyiv. Capitals defeated their opponents in a shootout series, and the final score of the game was 3:2.
By the way, this is the only point in the history of encounters that Kremenchuk have gained in the capital. Perhaps this was the point that our team needed to win in the regular championship. However, few people mention this anymore.
Capitals managed to win for the first time in Poltava region in an official match. This happened in the second face-to-face meeting. By the way, it was precisely two matches that made up Capitals series, during which the Kyiv team scored only during power plays. Overall, Capitals hockey players scored this way for six times, while Kremenchuk responded with just one goal.
One of the meetings between the teams lasted two days. The result of it was a victory for Kremenchuk in overtime at their home arena, Iceberg.
Let’s also discuss the individual statistics in face-to-face meetings. In our team, the leader in points scored is Serhii Chernenko (1 goal + 5 assists), and the top scorer with four goals is Yaroslav Panchenko.
On the other hand, the opponents had two goals scored by Yevhenii Abadzhian, and Vitalii Lialka and Artem Tselohorodtsev each collected three points (1 goal + 2 assists).
However, how the numbers will change in the decisive phase of the championship – we will see this evening.
