Juris Ozols’ side once again proved to be a difficult opponent for our team.
HS Riga (Latvia) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 6:5 (2:1, 1:1, 3:3)
Goals: 1:0 – Polis, 04:11; 1:1 – Bajaruns (Begovs), 07:14; 2:1 – Danilovs (Valbahs, A. Danovskis), 14:37; 2:2 – Hu (Tsarkovskyi, Fursa, – power play), 23:35; 3:2 – Spigulis (Polis), 26:27; 3:3 – Colli (Tsarkovskyi), 41:44; 4:3 – Rots (Obuks, Danilovs, – power play), 50:29; 4:4 – Cipruss (Tsarkovskyi), 52:52; 5:4 – Obuks, 56:22; 6:4 – Polis (Spigulis, – empty net), 58:42; 6:5 – Kryvonozhkin (Fursa, Augstkalns), 59:18.
HS Riga: Kristers Plepis; Markuss Saviels – Tomass Erdmanis Hermanis, Kristers Obuks (c) – Stefans Rots – Lenards Janis Sprieslis; Kristaps Kandis – Daniils Danovskis, Karlis Tamenieks – Felikss Niks Paurs – Makss Mihailovs; Aleksejs Danovskis – Markuss Ansons, Roberts Janis Polis – Gustavs Spigulis – Karlis Nauris Ceslis; Janis Paulins, Martins Teluskins – Ernests Valbahs – Davids Danilovs.
Head coach: Juris Ozols
Kyiv Capitals: Maksym Duve (Nazar Boiko, 14:37); Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Daniel Klinecky – Ivan Shamardin, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Yang Hu – Daniil Fursa; Edmunds Augstkalns – Alberto Colli, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Renars Cipruss; Andrejs Kostjuks, Valentyn Sirchenko – Denys Honcharenko – Aleksandrs Novikovs.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Kyiv approached their second match of the week with slight lineup changes. Hu replaced Melnykov on the roster, while Duve started in goal instead of Boiko.
The first period began with active power play pressure from the visitors after Tamenieks was penalized. However, strong play by Plepis allowed the Riga side to hold on – and, as the game later showed, much more than that. Ozols’ team capitalized on their first real opportunity. Polis picked up the puck near his own net, carried it the length of the ice, and, facing little resistance, beat Duve with a precise shot.
Kyiv responded appropriately. Begovs delivered a perfect through pass to Bajaruns, who fired into the top corner for his 20th goal of the season.
Despite outshooting their opponents by a wide margin, Kyiv conceded again before the intermission, as Danilovs restored the hosts’ lead.
During the break, the Capitals clearly reflected on their previous matchup and came out highly motivated. They quickly equalized on the power play, with Hu finishing off a classic man-advantage combination after a pass from Tsarkovskyi.
Yet the pattern repeated itself. Despite a significant edge in shot attempts, HS Riga once again displayed clinical finishing. Spigulis’ shot from the blue line found its way past Boiko, who was screened in front by both teammates and opponents.
Early in the third period, the visitors tied the score for the third time. Tsarkovskyi won a faceoff, the puck came to Colli, and his shot from the blue line left Plepis helpless.
While Kyiv struggled to convert another power play, HS Riga side made the most of theirs, as Rots scored from a sharp angle.
Tymchenko’s men equalized for the fourth time thanks to a precise shot by Cipruss, but shortly afterward the visitors once again found themselves chasing the game. Obuks forced the puck past Boiko, restoring Riga’s lead for the fifth time.
With two minutes remaining in regulation, Tymchenko pulled Boiko for an extra attacker, but Rots took advantage and scored into the empty net – completing a brace for the 17-year-old forward.
The 6×5 situation eventually paid off, as Kryvonozhkin cut the deficit to one puck. However, in the remaining 42 seconds, the visitors were unable to force overtime and ultimately fell 5:6.
After today’s defeat, Kyiv remains third in the standings with 57 points. On Saturday, Capitals will face the current league leaders, Liepaja.
