February 9th, 18:00, Kyiv, Sports Palace. Broadcast: MEGOGO, YouTube FHU
Today, Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team will meet Tryzub in the derby for the sixth time this season. However, due to the international break and the Ukrainian national team’s involvement in pre-qualification for the Olympic Games, Capitals will be missing some key players. Both Vladyslav Kutsevych and Yaroslav Panchenko are currently with the national team, and Nazar Boyko has been called up to the youth national team (U-18). Furthermore, Pavlo Taran and Serhii Chernenko will be absent due to disqualifications.
On the other hand, Tryzub has also undergone some changes in their lineup since the last face-to-face encounter. Defender Pavlo Dvoretskyi has left the team after joining Sokil on loan.
It’s worth noting that Capitals have emerged victorious in the previous five matches against Tryzub. The most recent encounter took place on January 22, where Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team displayed an impressive performance, particularly in the first period, leading them to a convincing 7:1 victory.
If we speak about the most highly intense match, we can`t overlook the third encounter between the two teams where the outcome was determined in the final minutes, resulting in a triumphant victory of Capitals with a score of 4:2.
It`s evident that both teams have different objectives for this upcoming meeting. Tryzub is most likely aiming for a fifth-place finish since their chances of making it to the playoffs have diminished. On the other hand, Berserks-Patriot still have a slim chance, albeit mathematically, to surpass Oleksandr Yakovenko’s team. Moreover, after their victory against Sokil, Tryzub is undoubtedly eager to secure another win in another derby.
Simultaneously, Capitals are keen on breaking their unpleasant streak of defeats and continuing their pursuit of higher rankings. Although the team has already ensured their participation in the playoffs, securing a favorable position in the regular championship holds great significance.
