Oleg Tymchenko’s side came out on top against the Lithuanian team in two matches that unfolded in very different ways.
Match 1. Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Energija (Lithuania) – 7:2 (3:1; 4:1; 0:0)
Goals: 0:1 – Binkulis (Gould, T. Kumeliauskas, – power play), 10:07; 1:1 – Jansons (Karsums), 10:45; 2:1 – Fursa (Shamardin), 14:43; 3:1 – Melnykov (Andreykiv), 19:59; 4:1 – Tsarkovskyi (Jansons, Karsums, power play +2), 26:57; 4:2 – Noreika (Ruzhnykov, Bendzius, – power play), 29:37; 5:2 – Karsums (Novikovs, Kostjuks, – power play), 34:49; 6:2 – Augstkalns (Fursa, Tsarkovskyi, – power play), 38:38; 7:2 – Karsums (Novikovs), 39:00.
Kyiv Capitals: Nazar Boiko; Andrejs Kostjuks – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Aleksandrs Novikovs – Rustams Begovs; Oleksii Melnykov – Vitalii Andreykiv, Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Renars Cipruss; Edmunds Augstkalns – Ivan Shamardin, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Daniil Fursa; Valentyn Sirchenko – Maksims Sirokovs, Oleksandr Valkun – Marat Saroka – Denys Plesovskykh
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Energija: Laurinas Lubys; Paulius Rumsevicius – Aurimas Gaidauskas, Tadas Kumeliauskas (c) – Egidijus Binkulis – Aivaras Bendzius; Jared Brock – Matas Cyvas, Dovydas Laimutis – Donatas Kumeliauskas – Eimantas Noreika; Matthew Gould – Karolis Krasilnikovas, Oleksandr Gutsu – Kipras Grabliauskas – Avgustinas Silinas; Nazar Ruzhnykov.
Head coach: Arunas Aleinikovas
Match 2. Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Energija (Lithuania) – 3:2 (0:1; 1:0; 2:1)
Goals: 0:1 – Gutsu (Krasilnikovas), 12:31; 1:1 – Karsums (Bajaruns, Jansons, – power play), 38:14; 2:1 – Honcharenko (Kryvonozhkin, Shamardin), 46:06; 2:2 – Gaidauskas, 46:22; 3:2 – Fursa (Cipruss), 46:45.
Kyiv Capitals: Maksym Duve; Andrejs Kostjuks – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Mārtiņš Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Oleksii Melnykov – Vitalii Andreykiv, Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Denys Honcharenko; Edmunds Augstkalns – Ivan Shamardin, Renars Cipruss – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Daniil Fursa; Oleksandr Valkun – Maksims Sirokovs, Aleksandrs Novikovs – Marat Saroka – Denys Plesovskykh.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Energija: Arkadijus Grigaravicius-Reyzin; Paulius Rumsevicius – Aurimas Gaidauskas, Matthew Gould – Egidijus Binkulis – Aivaras Bendzius; Nazar Ruzhnykov – Matas Cyvas, Dovydas Laimutis – Donatas Kumeliauskas (c) – Eimantas Noreika; Jared Brock – Oleksandr Gutsu, Karolis Krasilnikovas – Kipras Grabliauskas – Avgustinas Silinas.
Head coach: Arunas Aleinikovas
Energija arrived in Latvia with three full lines and only one player in the fourth, including just four natural defensemen. Meanwhile, for our team, Nazar Boiko made his debut at the Optibet league level.
Although the Capitals started more aggressively, they were the first to concede. Arunas Aleinikovas’ side capitalized on their power play, and after several saves, Boiko was helpless against Binkulis’ close-range finish.
However, the Lithuanians led for just 38 seconds. Jansons tied it up in style, and by the end of the period, the Capitals had established a comfortable lead. First, Lubys failed to intercept Honcharenko’s pass to Fursa, who scored from close range, and then, with one second left in the period, Melnykov notched his second league goal of the season.
In the second frame, following penalties to Gaidauskas and Silinas, Tymchenko’s men got a 5×3 advantage and made the most of it. Tsarkovskyi finished the move with a sharp-angle shot, scoring his first goal for the Capitals.
Energija responded in kind, as Noreika pounced around Boiko’s crease to score his second of the night. But the goal rush wasn’t over. Once again, the Ukrainians struck on the power play: Karsums deflected Novikovs’ shot, and Augstkalns opened his Capitals tally with a blast from the blue line. Soon after, the captain Karsums struck again to complete his brace.
The final period saw no goals, as both sides saved energy for the rematch. Ahead of game 2, both lineups saw changes: Energija started Grigaravicius-Reyzin in net and also missed captain Tadas Kumeliauskas, leaving their roster even thinner.
Duve made his second start of the season for Kyiv, while Bajaruns returned to the first line, replacing Sirchenko on the roster.
Once again, Energija struck first, with Oleksandr Gutsu`s goal. Aleinikovas’ team held the lead until the 39th minute, when the opponent`s penalty gave the Capitals their chance. Bajaruns found Karsums, who scored his third goal of the series.
The turning point came in the 47th minute, which produced three goals in under 40 seconds. Honcharenko put the hosts in front, capitalizing on a scramble in front. Gaidauskas tied it with a powerful shot, but Fursa quickly restored the lead for Tymchenko’s men, who held on to win.
With 11 points, Kyiv Capitals climbed to the top of the standings. On October 1, the team will play away against Mogo/RSU.
