Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team was content with earning one point in today’s match.
Kyiv Capitals – Storm-Odesa – 2:3, S (0:1; 0:1; 2:0; 0:0; 0:1)
Pucks: 0:1 – Kryklia (Poimanov), 07:30; 0:2 – Tymchenko (Boiko), 28:57; 1:2 – Karpenko (Oliynyk), 41:45; 2:2 – Dvornyk (Shevchenko), 42:13; 2:3 – Nikonov (winning shot)
Kyiv Capitals: Nazar Boiko; Nikita Liesnikov – Deniss Berdniks, Danylo Tyshchenko – Serhii Chernenko (c) – Yaroslav Panchenko; Vladyslav Luhovyi – Eetu Moksunen, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Sevastian Karpenko – Mykyta Oliynyk; Tymur Lapko – Oleksii Melnykov, Ihor Shevchenko – Yevhen Sekirko – Denys Plesovskykh; Mykhailo Vasyliiev – Valentyn Sirchenko, Oleksandr Valkun – Mykola Dvornyk – Oleksandr Koida
Head coach: Vadym Shakhraichuk
Storm-Odesa: Mykyta Hordiushyn; Bohdan Trushchenko – Hlib Varava, Serhii Poimanov – Illia Kryklia – Dmytro Kobylnyk; Yevhenii Ratushnyi (c) – Sava Novikov, Daniil Skorokhod – Valentyn Aleksiuk – Dmytro Mosiuk; Dmytro Stotskyi – Ruslan Boiko, Dmytro Sapozhnik – Nazar Danylenko – Anatolii Revuka; Maksym Kurakh, Viktor Nikonov – Vladislav Kutsevych – Sviatoslav Tymchenko
Head coach: Oleksandr Bobkin
The visiting team faced significant challenges in their line-up as they entered the match in Kyiv. Four players were unable to join the team due to illness: Sydorenko, Stetsiura, Portnoi, and Kruhliakov. Despite this setback, there were some exciting debuts to note. Hordiushyn and Tymchenko made their first appearance for the Storm-Odesa roster, while Shevchenko took to the ice in a Kyiv Capitals jersey for the first time.
Despite a strong start, Capitals were unable to take the lead, with their opponents seizing one of their early chances. The home team’s defense struggled to clear the puck from their zone, allowing Poimanov to set up Kryklia for the opening goal, leaving Boyko with no chance.
The challenges continued for the Capitals as Storm dominated in the second period, securing two power plays and even enjoying a 5×3 advantage for 30 seconds. However, the resilient Capitals players managed to hold them off. Despite creating several scoring opportunities, Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team was denied by Hordiushyn’s solid performance in goal.
At the start of the second 20-minute period, Boiko found himself working overtime to fend off the relentless attacks from the Odesa team. Despite Nazar’s efforts, he lacked adequate support from his teammates, leading to Storm-Odesa extending their lead. Ruslan Boiko unleashed a shot, which Capitals’ goalkeeper redirected to Tymchenko, who effortlessly netted the puck.
The opposing team’s defense proved tough as our hockey players struggled to score before the second break. This spurred a more aggressive approach for our team as they entered the third period.
Just two minutes into the third period, Oliynyk seized the puck, sparking a swift counterattack that spanned the entire rink. Mykyta`s pass found its mark in the hands of Karpenko, who made no mistake in scoring into an empty net guarded by Hordiushyn.
In the intense match-ups between these teams, comebacks are a recurring theme, and today was no different. Vadym Shakhraichuk’s squad wasted no time in equalizing, with Shevchenko feeding Dvornyk, who expertly placed the puck past Hordiushyn’s defense to level the score in just 28 seconds.
The teams continued to exchange opportunities to score the winning goal throughout the remaining period, but neither could find the back of the net. This marked the second time this season that the teams ended regular playing time with a 2:2 scoreline.
In the overtime, Capitals’ captain, Chernenko, had the best opportunity to secure victory, but his close-range shot was expertly saved by Hordiushyn.
Unlike the shootout in Odesa, the goalkeepers came out on top in today’s face-to-face battles with the attackers. Only one out of nine shots found the net, with Nikonov being the sole player to score. This decisive goal allowed Storm-Odesa to avenge their previous home defeat in the post-match shootout.
Looking ahead, Oleksandr Bobkin’s team will face Dnipro in their upcoming match at home, while Vadym Shakhraichuk’s squad will travel to Kremenchuk for their next fixture.