Oleg Tymchenko’s team defeated Mogo/RSU for the second time this season.
Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Mogo/RSU (Latvia) – 3:2 (1:0; 1:1; 1:1)
Goals: 1:0 – Begovs, 06:25; 1:1 – Fenenko, 30:53; 2:1 – Andreikiv (Begovs, – short-handed), 33:00; 3:1 – Novikovs (Zelts), 47:50; 3:2 – Zemitis (Sprukts), 59:15.
Kyiv Capitals: Janis Voris; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Daniel Klinecky – Edmunds Augstkalns, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Yang Hu – Aleksandrs Novikovs; Andrejs Kostjuks – Ivan Shamardin, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Daniil Fursa; Oleksii Melnykov, Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Renars Cipruss – Kristians Zelts.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Mogo/RSU: Karlis Mezsargs; Krisjanis Redlihs – Kristaps Sotnieks, Gints Meija (c) – Gatis Sprukts – Deivids Sarkanis; Niks Fenenko – Renarts Berzins, Elviss Zelubovskis – Ernests Krums – Kaspars Ziemins; Kristaps Jakobsons – Vladimirs Zaicevs, Janis Zemitis – Kristers Ansons – Maris Bicevskis; Ingus Locmelis – Aleks Elians Leonovs, Reinis Martins Lejnieks – Artemijs Orlovs – Rolans Vasiļjevs.
Head coach: Girts Ankipans
Kyiv Capitals approached this matchup with minor changes to their lines, while Sirchenko and Sirokovs were left out of the roster.
The importance of the victory was significant both in terms of standings and psychology, as the winner was guaranteed first place in the league for at least two weeks.
In the first period, the hosts outshot their opponents 13:3 and managed to take a minimal lead. Begovs went on a solo rush from his own zone and finished with a precise shot between Mezsargs’ pads.
The visitors stepped up their play in the second period, creating increasing pressure in front of Voris’ net. As a result, after an interception, Fenenko fired a powerful shot to equalize the score. It was already the Riga defenseman’s third goal in the last two meetings between these teams.
However, just over two minutes later, one of the key moments of the game occurred. Following a penalty to Kostjuks, the visitors had a chance to go on the power play but quickly conceded. Begovs sparked a fast counterattack and take a pass to Andreykiv, whose shot deflected off Ansons, sailed over Mezsargs, and ended up in the net.
In the third period, another Kyiv Capitals player scored in a second consecutive matchup against this opponent. After a pass from Zelts, Novikovs beat the Mogo/RSU goaltender on his second attempt to extend the lead to two goals.
A crucial stretch for Kyiv came when they scored a penalty after Jansons was sent off just 54 seconds after the third goal. Brilliant saves by Voris and committed defensive play prevented the visitors from closing the gap.
The visitors scored their second goal with 45 seconds remaining in regulation time. Playing without Mezsargs, they converted a classic power play setup, with Zemitis finishing the play. However, in the remaining time, there were no further serious threats to Voris’ net. With 33 saves, Janis became one of the key heroes of the game.
This victory allowed the Kyiv Capitals to reach 51 points and move into first place in the standings. Mogo/RSU sits second, one point behind.
On February 14, Oleg Tymchenko’s team will resume league play with a home game against Zemgale/LBTU.
