Oleg Tymchenko’s team extends its Optibet League winning streak to five games.
Panter (Estonia) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 3:8 (1:2; 1:4; 1:2)
Goals: 1:0 – Fedorovits (Puzakov), 01:34; 1:1 – Kryvonozhkin, 06:09; 1:2 – Honcharenko (Tsarkovskyi, Zelts, – power play), 18:04; 1:3 – Bajaruns, 20:18; 2:3 – Lovkov (Novikov, – power play), 23:19; 2:4 – Novikovs (Fursa, Tsarkovskyi), 25:04; 2:5 – Bajaruns (Karsums, Begovs), 30:18; 2:6 – Zelts (Karsums, Jansons, – power play), 31:50; 3:6 – Vasjonkin (Kiik), 45:43; 3:7 – Zelts (Begovs, – power play), 48:00; 3:8 – Jansons (Honcharenko, Tsarkovskyi, – power play), 56:00.
Panter: Georg Vladimirov (Eetu Nieminen, 20:00); Niklas Sildre – Saveli Novikov, Vadim Vasjonkin – Rasmus Kiik (c) – Andre Linde; Rico Marder Velja – Konrad Kudeviita, Maksim Lovkov – Nikita Fedorovits – Nikita Puzakov; Hendrik Paul Laosma – Jegor Proskurin, Artjom Masljonov – Artjom Timofejev – Mihkel Vorang; Roland Luht, Jens Hubert Parras – Artjom Abeljanov – Kevin Parras.
Head coach: Mikko Maenpaa
Kyiv Capitals: Janis Voris; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Andrejs Kostjuks – Edmunds Augstkalns, Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Daniil Fursa – Denys Honcharenko; Oleksii Melnykov – Ivan Shamardin, Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Renars Cipruss; Oleksandr Valkun – Maksims Sirokovs, Denys Plesovskykh – Aleksandrs Novikovs – Kristians Zelts.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Our team entered the match with a familiar lineup, unchanged from recent games, except for the return of Zelts, who replaced Saroka in the fourth line after a short game break.
The opening moments went surprisingly well for the home team. The Puzakov-Fedorovits duo once again combined to score against Voris, with the latter finishing off a rebound to open the scoring.
Kyiv Capitals quickly responded, with Kryvonozhkin battling for the puck in front of the net before skillfully maneuvering past defenders and beating Vladimirov.
In the 15th minute, the Estonians earned a power play after Honcharenko’s penalty, but failed to capitalize. Kyiv, on the other hand, made the most of their first man advantage – Honcharenko fired a powerful shot into the top corner to give his team the lead.
A late incident in the first period saw Kryvonozhkin receive a 5+20 penalty for checking an opponent, with Karsums serving the major. Lovkov also got two minutes, leading to 4-on-4 play – where Bajaruns stole the puck and beat Nieminen, who had replaced Vladimirov in goal.
Panter pulled one back during a prolonged power play, with Lovkov scoring after returning from the penalty box. However, their joy was short-lived – Novikovs restored Kyiv’s two-goal cushion after a clever pass from Fursa.
Kyiv Capitals kept pressing and struck again, with Bajaruns netting his second of the night – exactly ten minutes after his first.
Returning to the lineup, Zelts marked his comeback in style, scoring on the rebound after Karsums’ shot, as the visitors converted yet another power play.
The third period continued to deliver goals. Vasjonkin reduced the deficit to three, but Zelts quickly responded, completing his brace and giving Kyiv their third power play goal of the night.
Eight minutes later, Jansons sealed the emphatic victory with another goal on the man advantage.
Thus, Oleg Tymchenko’s side defeated Panter for the second time this season – in a much more high-scoring affair – and solidified their place atop the standings. On Saturday, the team will face Liepaja in an away fixture.
