Oleg Tymchenko’s men took revenge on Prizma for the loss in their first-round encounter.
Prizma (Latvia) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 2:6 (0:3; 1:1; 1:2)
Goals: 0:1 – Fursa (Hu, Augstkalns, – power play), 07:46; 0:2 – Plesovskykh (Cipruss), 24:30; 0:3 – Jansons (Karsums, Fursa, – double power play), 18:11; 0:4 – Bajaruns (Jansons), 24:03; 1:4 – Milbergs (Samurs, Apsitis, – power play), 31:03; 2:4 – Kornilovs (Locmelis, Ekimovs), 42:28; 2:5 – Fursa (Hu), 44:54; 2:6 – Zelts (Bajaruns, Karsums, – power play), 52:57.
Prizma: Janis Auzins; Deniss Kornilovs – Roberts Vorona, Matiss Birins – Emils Locmelis – Roberts Ekimovs (c); Krists Apsitis – Arturs Apfelbaums, Italo Milbergs – Ricards Stamurs – Kristers Bormanis; Ilja Grekovs – Toms Barens, Ricardo Valerio Fino David – Salokhiddin Azimov – Dmitrijs Zaharovs; Kirills Opikovs – Reinis Virsnitis, Ricards Jelenskis – Patriks Egle – Gustavs Alberts Moruzs.
Head coach: Eriks Miluns
Kyiv Capitals: Janis Voris; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Oleksandr Valkun; Andrejs Kostjuks – Edmunds Augstkalns, Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Daniil Fursa; Maksims Sirokovs – Ivan Shamardin, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Kristians Zelts; Valentyn Sirchenko – Oleksii Melnykov, Denys Plesovskykh – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Aleksandrs Novikovs.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Compared to the previous match, the Capitals’ lineup featured one change: Valkun replaced Begovs in the first offensive line, while Plesovskykh joined the fourth line.
The Kyiv players stepped onto the ice, eager to make up for their earlier loss to Prizma. Tymchenko’s team converted their very first power play – Fursa fired a powerful shot off Augstkalns’ pass straight into Auzins’ top corner.
Soon after, the visitors doubled their lead. Plesovskykh showed great composure against the opposing goalie, scoring his first-ever goal in the Optibet Hockey League.
Before the first intermission, the Capitals struck again – this time in a 5×3 situation. Jansons recorded his sixth goal of the season.
In the second period, the Capitals extended their lead. Jansons turned provider, setting up Bajaruns, who beat Auzins with a pinpoint shot into the corner.
Before the second break, the Riga side got one back, capitalizing on their power play – Milbergs outmuscled Voris in front of the net and tipped the puck in.
In the third period, the hosts reduced the gap to two goals. Kornilovs` shot took a wild deflection and ended up in Voris’ net.
However, Fursa quickly responded with his second goal of the game, and Zelts added another on the Capitals’ third power-play conversion.
With this win, Kyiv Capitals reached 24 points after 14 games and currently sit third in the standings. Following Zemgale/LBTU’s loss, Mogo/RSU moved to the top (17 games, 25 points), Liepaja sits second (15 games, 24 points), and the team from Jelgava is fourth (14 games, 23 points).
The league now enters an international break. After it, on November 11, Kyiv Capitals will host HS Riga.
