Vadym Shakhraichuk’s team, after a successful starting period, conceded in the next two.
Coventry Blaze (England) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 5:2 (0:1; 3:1; 2:0)
Pucks: 0:1 – Karpenko (Luhovyi, Dvornyk, double power play), 07:41; 1:1 – Gresock (Luciani, power play), 29:46; 2:1 – Gresock (Luciani, Stridsberg, power play), 33:15; 3:1 – Gresock (Luciani, power play), 35:10; 3:2 – Teamriuc (Dvornyk), 36:37; 4:2 – Cressey (Luciani, Alderson), 55:34; 5:2 – Jurgens, 55:57
Coventry Blaze: Cam Gray; Mike Kennedy – Terrance Amorosa, Brandon Alderson – Jackson Cressey – Nick Seitz; David Clements – Jakob Stridsberg, Grayson Constable – Michael Regush – Chase Gresock; Zaine McKenzie, Alexander Kuqali – Kim Tallberg – Alessio Luciani – Brynley Capps; Jack Hopkins – Morten Jurgens – Zach Heintz
Head Coach: Kevin Moore
Kyiv Capitals: Boris Babik; Oleksii Melnykov – Nikita Liesnikov, Mykyta Oliinyk – Sevastian Karpenko – Andrii Kryvonozhkin; Deniss Berdniks – Mykola Dvornyk, Yaroslav Panchenko – Vladyslav Teamriuc – Vladyslav Luhovyi; Tymur Lapko – Valentyn Sirchenko, Denys Plesovskykh – Yevhen Sekirko – Oleksandr Koyda; Ostap Ostashevskyi – Nazar Katrusha, Artem Arkhypenko – Oleksandr Valkun
Head coach: Vadym Shakhraichuk
The beginning of the meeting turned into a preliminary skirmish as both teams felt each other out. Following a brief build-up, the Blaze and the Capitals started to take the offensive. Despite neither team being able to capitalize on power plays, the Kyiv team scored after 5×3 play. Captain Karpenko expertly executed a Ukrainian team combination to secure the goal.
In the next period, Shakhraichuk’s team made more fouls, and this situation significantly impacting the game. American forward of the Blaze Gresock emerged as the standout player against the Capitals, scoring three times on Babik’s goal within a span of less than 5,5 minutes, each goal coming during a 5×4 situation.
However, our team responded swiftly. Dvornyk initiated a quick 2×1 attack against the guests, with the first goal scored by Romanian striker Teamriuc in the Capitals jersey.
The final 20 minutes saw a closely contested battle, with neither side able to convert their chances.
Nonetheless, towards the end of the game, the hosts managed to score two more goals. Cressey and Jurgens were the authors of these pucks. The match ended with a score of 5:2, resulting in the Kyiv Capitals falling to the Coventry Blaze in their first encounter.
Additionally, Vladyslav Luhovyi was named the MVP of the match for our team. Looking ahead, the second match at Skydome Arena is scheduled for tomorrow at 19:30.
