January 10, 13:30, Pinki, Inbox Ice Arena.
Oleg Tymchenko’s team returns to home ice after three consecutive road games against direct rivals. The result was two points earned, but unfortunately, the team did not get to taste victory. Therefore, the Capitals are eager to get back to their confident stride in the Optibet Hockey League.
For the Vilnius side, the match against Kyiv will be their first game of 2026. They last played on December 21, when Dovydas Kulevicius’ team suffered a heavy 1:7 defeat to Panter. Currently, the Lithuanian club is on a nine-game winless streak and sits eighth in the standings with ten points.
The opponents will meet for the fourth time this season. The previous three encounters all ended in victories for Kyiv Capitals – 7:3, 4:2, and 8:0. The most recent matchup was the only one played at the Inbox Arena, where Maksym Duve recorded a shutout. Who will start in goal this time is another intriguing storyline ahead of the game.
The leading scorer for Hockey Punks is Finnish forward Alex Maunula, who has collected 18 points (6+12). Meanwhile, Povilas Verenis has scored the most goals for the team, with nine.
Friday’s matchup presents an excellent opportunity to put an end to an unpleasant streak. We will soon find out which team can seize that chance.
