Oleg Tymchenko’s team defeated Prizmafor the third time.
Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Prizma (Latvia) – 4:2 (2:1; 0:0; 2:1)
Goals: 1:0 – Kovalchuk (Klinecky, Tsarkovskyi, – power play), 13:16; 2:0 – Bajaruns (Karsums, Begovs), 13:51; 2:1 – Jekimovs (Apsitis, Jelenskis), 15:58; 3:1 – Andreikiv (4×4), 41:33; 3:2 – Jekimovs (Birins, Locmelis), 43:54; 4:2 – Tsarkovskyi (Cipruss, – empty net), 59:49.
Series score – 3:0.
Kyiv Capitals: Nazar Boiko; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Daniel Klinecky – Alberto Colli, Yang Hu – Renars Cipruss – Aleksandrs Novikovs; Ivan Shamardin – Andrejs Kostjuks, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Denys Honcharenko; Oleksii Melnykov, Valentyn Sirchenko – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Kristians Zelts.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Prizma: Martins Eldmanis; Aleksandr Erofeev – Deniss Kornilovs, Matiss Birins – Emils Locmelis – Roberts Jekimovs; Krists Apsitis – Italo Milbergs, Valters Apfelbaums – Kristaps Riekstins – Edijs Brahmanis (c); Toms Barens – Ilja Grekovs, Roberts Vorona – Ricards Stamurs – Gustavs Alberts Moruzs; Reinis Virsnitis – Ricardo Valerio Fino David, Haralds Gabrans – Dmitrijs Zaharovs – Ricards Jelenskis.
Head coach: Eriks Miluns
For the third game of the series, Tymchenko’s team made just one change to the lineup. The Kyiv coach could not rely on the author of the previous game’s winning goal, Daniil Fursa, while Kristians Zelts returned to the roster.
In the first half of the opening period, the hosts scored again, but the goal was disallowed due to a high stick by Begovs.
The Riga side failed to capitalize on a power play following Shamardin’s penalty. Meanwhile, the Capitals made the most of their first 5×4 opportunity in the 14th minute. Kovalchuk fired a powerful shot into the top corner of Eldmanis’ net to open the scoring.
Just 35 seconds later, the first forward line struck again. Begovs intercepted the puck and passed to Karsums, who set up Bajaruns for an easy finish into the net.
However, Tymchenko’s team went into the first intermission with only a one-goal lead. Roberts Jekimovs was first to the rebound after Apsitis’ shot, scoring Prizma’s first goal of the game.
In the second period, Colli received a 5+20 penalty for a slashing. Despite more than seven minutes on the power play, the visitors failed to score, and the scoreboard remained unchanged.
Early in the third period, the Capitals extended their lead during 4×4 play. Andreykiv intercepted the puck at his own blue line, entered the offensive zone, and beat Eldmanis with a powerful shot.
Once again, Jekimovs became the key factor for Prizma. Birins pushed the puck to the crease, where Roberts was left unmarked and completed a brace – his fourth goal of the playoffs.
In the final 35 seconds, the visitors pulled Eldmanis for an extra skater, but it backfired. Cipruss hit the post, and Tsarkovskyi finished the rebound into the empty net.
Thus, the Kyiv team won the match 4:2 and advanced to the semifinal series against Mogo/RSU. The first game of that series is scheduled for March 24.
