Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team unfortunately suffered a loss to Dnipro in a shootout series.
Dnipro (Kherson) – Kyiv Capitals (Кyiv) – 3:2, S (2:1; 0:1; 0:0; 0:0)
Pucks: 1:0 – Stetsiura (Sydorenko, Portnoi), 06:42; 1:1 – Kryvonozhkin (Sekirko), 13:48; 2:1 – Kryklia (Ratushnyi), 19:13; 2:2 – Kryvonozhkin, 29:15; 3:2 – Kryklia (winning shootout)
Dnipro: Eduard Zakharchenko; Hlib Varava – Yevhen Ratushnyi, Mykyta Sydorenko – Illia Kryklia – Serhii Stetsiura; Valentyn Aleksiuk – Anton Stotskyi, Mykhailo Tsiura – Ivan Omelchuk – Dmytro Kobylnyk; Artem Portnoi – Rasim Abdullaiev, Dmytro Mosiuk – Serhii Poimanov – Dmytro Sapozhnik; Kyrylo Bortnikov, Arsen Oliynyk – Ruslan Boiko – Kostiantyn Yatsenko
Head coach: Oleksandr Bobkin
Kyiv Capitals: Boris Babik; Danylo Tyshchenko – Deniss Berdniks, Vladyslav Kutsevych – Serhii Chernenko (c) – Yaroslav Panchenko; Eetu Moksunen – Tymur Lapko, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Yevhen Sekirko – Mykyta Oliynyk; Valentyn Sirchenko – Kostiantyn Riabenko, Yehor Bezuhlyi – Mykola Dvornyk – Vladyslav Luhovyi; Oleksandr Dreval – Danylo Babchuk, Denys Plesovskykh – Oleksandr Valkun – Oleksandr Koida
Head coach: Vadym Shakhraichuk
Capitals came into this match with a bolstered roster. As previously announced, Chernenko made his return to the Capitals’ squad following his disqualification. Meanwhile, Taran was missing another match for the same reason. On the other side, the Pikes were without Shcherbak in their lineup.
In the early stages of the game, the Kherson team took the lead as Stetsiura outpaced Sekirko and outmaneuvered Babik with a well-placed shot. However, the visitors soon found themselves with a two-player advantage for 35 seconds but failed to capitalize on the opportunity, much to the disappointment of Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team.
In the latter part of the period, Capitals managed to level the score while playing with equal number of players on the ice. Sekirko initiated an attack, and Kryvonozhkin finished with a goal, catching Zakharchenko off guard.
However, Oleksandr Bobkin’s team managed to secure the lead going into the first break. Ratushnyi assisted Kryklia, who adeptly maneuvered past the opponent’s defense to score a goal. In the subsequent 20-minute period, the Kherson team had a 5×3 opportunity but failed to capitalize on it.
Capitals faced their fair share of penalties in this match. Sirchenko was ejected early for unsportsmanlike conduct against Sydorenko, resulting in the Kyiv team playing shorthanded for five minutes. Despite the setback, Capitals managed to level the score during a 4×4 situation caused by a two-minute penalty on Sydorenko.
Kryvonozhkin demonstrated his skill by evading defenders and scoring his second goal, neatly placing the puck past Zakharchenko. This goal marked Andrii’s 26th of the season.
At the 35th minute Capitals once again gained a double majority, but it was short-lived at only 35 seconds. This numerical advantage did not bode well for the guests.
In a tense third period, neither team was able to score, resulting in a 2:2 tie after 60 minutes of play in Odesa for the second consecutive time.
The teams remained deadlocked in overtime, leading to a shootout series to determine the victory. Despite a prolonged delay after the alarm sounded, the match concluded within 15 minutes, thanks to the air defense forces.
In the end, the home team emerged victorious in the shootout series as Sydorenko and Kryklia outwitted Babik. Conversely, only Chernenko successfully converted his attempt among Kyiv Capitals hockey players.
Consequently, Dnipro accumulated 59 points, solidifying their position in third place, while Capitals concluded the regular season in fourth place.
This Sunday, both teams will participate in matches for the final round before the commencement of playoffs. Dnipro is set to host Tryzub, and Capitals will face off against Sokil in an exciting derby showdown.
