Oleg Tymchenko’s team defeated Hockey Punks for the fourth time this season.
Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Hockey Punks (Lithuania) – 7:3 (2:2; 3:0; 2:1)
Goals: 0:1 – Cetvertak (Baltrunas), 10:06; 0:2 – Redko (Michalevich, Zuckovs), 14:10; 1:2 – Honcharenko (Cipruss, Tsarkovskyi), 16:47; 2:2 – Begovs (Fursa), 17:10; 3:2 – Cipruss (Kostjuks, Tsarkovskyi), 22:12; 4:2 – Cipruss (Honcharenko, Tsarkovskyi), 33:48; 5:2 – Fursa (Augstkalns, Bajaruns), 37:45; 5:3 – Maunula (Motejunas, Mukovoz, – power play), 41:21; 6:3 – Jansons (Fursa, Bajaruns, – power play), 54:26; 7:3 – Bajaruns (Fursa, Jansons, – power play), 59:30.
Kyiv Capitals: Maksym Duve; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Daniil Fursa – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Maksims Sirokovs – Edmunds Augstkalns (c), Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Kristians Zelts; Andrejs Kostjuks – Ivan Shamardin, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Renars Cipruss; Oleksii Melnykov – Valentyn Sirchenko, Marat Saroka – Alexandrs Novikovs.
Head Coach: Oleg Tymchenko.
Hockey Punks: Simas Baltrunas (Artur Pavliukov, 40:00); Jani Tappani Siekkinen – Dino Mukovoz, Luke Fox Kutkevicius – Ilja Cetvertak – Timonas Mazulis; Herkus Marcinkevicius – Kajus Zeinalov, Alex Maunula – Povilas Verenis – Laisvydas Kudrevicius (c); Benas Belicenka – Dominikas Motejunas, Artem Redko – Ilja Michalevich – Ilja Zuckovs; Nojus Jonas Kudzevicius – Ignotas Ragas, Kirill Struk – Martynas Sulcas – Pijus Skalandis.
Head Coach: Dovydas Kulevicius.
In this match, the hosts were without suspended Martins Karsums, so Edmunds Augstkalns was in the captain’s role. The rest of the lineup remained unchanged compared to the previous game, with the only exception being in goal, where Duve replaced Voris.
The opening period did not unfold as planned in Kyiv. After a solo rush, Cetvertak beat the Capitals’ defense and fired a powerful shot past Duve. The visitors doubled their lead soon after, as Redko converted a pass from behind the net by Michalevich to score again.
After this cold shower, Tymchenko’s players regrouped and managed to level the score before the break. Baltrunas initially stopped Honcharenko’s shot, but the puck deflected off Kudrevicius’ skate and ended up in the Hockey Punks’ net. Moments later, Begovs made it 2:2, finishing a timely pass from Fursa, who replaced Karsums on the first line, leaving Baltrunas with no chance.
At the start of the second period, sustained pressure in the offensive zone allowed the Capitals to take the lead. Cipruss was first to the rebound after a shot by Tsarkovskyi. Scoring continued in the latter half of the period as Honcharenko launched a quick counterattack and fed Cipruss, who completed his brace with a powerful shot. Before the second intermission, Kyiv extended its lead to three goals, with Fursa capitalizing on another rebound.
Early in the third period, the visitors cut their deficit to two pucks. Maunula blasted a shot from mid-range to convert a power play for the Lithuanian side. However, late in the game, Kyiv’s top line struck twice on the power play. First, Jansons finished a beautiful combination to score his eighth goal of the season, and then Bajaruns added his 14th goal and 31st point in the Optibet Hockey League.
This victory enabled Kyiv Capitals to solidify their second-place standing with 44 points. On January 14, Oleg Tymchenko’s team will face Prizma.
