Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team concluded their trip to Odesa with a loss in overtime.
Dnipro (Kherson) – Kyiv Capitals (Kyiv) – 3:2, ОТ (1:1; 1:1; 0:0; 1:0)
Pucks: 0:1 – Kryvonozhkin (Oliynyk, Luhovyi, majority), 08:39; 1:1 – Poimanov (Kobylnyk, Varava, majority), 18:01; 2:1 – Stetsiura (Kryklia, Ratushnyi, majority), 21:38; 2:2 – Berdniks (Oliynyk), 38:46; 3:2 – Sydorenko (Varava), 61:38
Dnipro: Eduard Zakharchenko; Hlib Varava – Yevhen Ratushnyi, Mykyta Sydorenko – Illia Kryklia – Serhii Stetsiura; Rasim Abdullaiev – Anton Stotskyi, Mykhailo Tsiura – Illia Shcherbak – Dmytro Kobylnyk; Artem Portnoi – Kyrylo Bortnikov, Dmytro Mosiuk – Serhii Poimanov – Dmytro Sapozhnik; Ruslan Boyko, Arsen Oliynyk – Ivan Omelchuk – Kostiantyn Yatsenko
Head coach: Oleksandr Bobkin
Kyiv Capitals: Boris Babik; Pavlo Taran – Deniss Berdniks, Vladyslav Kutsevych – Serhii Chernenko (c) – Yaroslav Panchenko; Eetu Moksunen – Kostiantyn Riabenko, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Vladyslav Luhovyi – Mykyta Oliynyk; Valentyn Sirchenko – Tymur Lapko, Mykola Dvornyk – Yevhen Sekirko – Danylo Tyshchenko; Oleksandr Koida, Oleksandr Valkun – Yehor Bezuhlyi – Oleksandr Dreval
Head coach: Vadym Shakhraichuk
The teams assembled for the meeting with near-optimal lineups. Compared to the match in Kremenchuk, the Kyiv team had the advantage of Sekirko, Riabenko, and Taran, who had returned after recovering from their illness. Unfortunately, due to a high temperature, Babchuk was unable to take the ice.
Similar to their previous encounter, Capitals took advantage of the first power play opportunity. Oliynyk unleashed a shot, and Kryvonozhkin outpaced Varava, directing the puck into Zakharchenko’s goal from a close distance. It is worth highlighting that this assist marked Mykyta’s 27th, while Andrii celebrated his 22nd goal.
In the 12th minute, the Pikes were presented with an even better chance. Bezuhlyi and Taran were out of play due to penalties, while Oleksandr Bobkin’s team had 85 seconds to play 5×3, but the visiting team displayed impressive defensive skills and successfully thwarted their efforts.
However, before the first break, team from Kherson equalized the score. Kobylnyk made a pass to Poymanov, who delivered a powerful shot into the corner of the goal, leaving Babik with little chance to defend.
At the beginning of the second period, Dnipro took the lead for the first time in the game, once again capitalizing on the 5×4 power play situation. Kryklia took a shot from the spot, and Stetsiura outmaneuvered Berdniks to knock the puck past Babik, increasing their lead.
On the other hand, Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team successfully fulfilled their role as the team that had to score before the halftime break. Towards the end of the second 20-minute period, Berdniks passed the puck to Kryvonozhkin, but Abdullaiev swiftly placed his stick under the puck, leaving no chance for Zakharchenko to make a save.
The third period ended in a goalless tie, marking the first time this season that Capitals faced overtime in a match not against Sokil. However, the overtime was short-lived, lasting less than two minutes. Sydorenko delivered a breathtaking solo and successfully scored from a difficult angle, securing the Pikes their third victory of the season against Kyiv Capitals.
It is worth noting that following this result, both teams were tied with 48 points each. Nevertheless, thanks to additional metrics, Oleksandr Bobkin’s team secured a higher position (third place) in the tournament standings.
It is important to mention that the next scheduled match for these two rivals will once again be face-to-face. This time, Dnipro will be the visiting team in Kyiv, where they will face Capitals on Saturday at the local Sports Palace.
