Oleg Tymchenko’s wards defeated the Riga squad for the first time in the new season and for the eighth time in the history of their head-to-head matchups.
The Kyiv team approached the final game of September with an expanded roster, as two hockey players simultaneously recovered from injuries. We are talking about the leading goalscorer in matchups against this opponent, Danylo Tsarkovskyi, who missed the previous game, and Rustams Begovs. The latter took to the ice for the first time this season. Traditionally, a goaltender rotation took place. Huunonen replaced Mölder.
The start of the game turned out to be successful for Eriks Miļuns’ wards. Just 16 seconds in, Locmelis beat the hosts’ Finnish goaltender with a shot from a sharp angle, gifting Prizma/RTU the lead.
It took Oleg Tymchenko’s team less than two minutes to restore parity. This happened when the teams were playing in a 4×4 format. This time, Eldmanis failed to cope with a precise shot from Rautiala, who recorded his debut goal for Kyiv Capitals.
Before the first intermission, the hosts created more chances near the opponent’s net, but the score remained unchanged.
The second period began following a similar scenario. The Riga squad scored again in the first minute. This time, it was thanks to the efforts of the 2025/2026 Optibet League regular season top scorer. Jekimovs tallied his ninth goal in matches against Kyiv Capitals, once again putting the team from the Latvian capital ahead.
Oleg Tymchenko’s wards responded to this with two goals scored within just 39 seconds. Begovs found Kovalchuk in the slot with a pass from behind the net, and Kovalchuk redirected the puck into the opponent’s net. Shortly after, Sprukts gifted the hosts the lead by redirecting the puck following a shot from the point by Andreykiv.
By the 32nd minute, the Ukrainian representatives scored two more times. Sarkanis sent Stradnieks one-on-one with Eldmanis, and he confidently converted his chance. Jansons hit Martins’ net for the fifth time, burying a close-range shot into the top corner. After that, Skrebutens took his place on the guests’ final line of defense.
However, the Riga squad had no intention of backing down, converting on a power play. Vitols received a convenient pass in the slot and confidently beat Huunonen, cutting the deficit to two goals.
In the third period, the game was briefly interrupted twice due to technical reasons, but fortunately, the teams continued the match.
The Kyiv team also distinguished itself by capitalizing on a power play. Korenchuk closed in on Skrebutens and sent the puck into the far top corner of his net in spectacular fashion.
Consequently, Oleg Tymchenko’s wards won with a score of 6:3 and extended their winning streak to three games. After six matches played, they sit in second place in the standings with ten points.
Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Prizma/RTU (Latvia) – 6:3 (1:1; 4:2; 1:0)
Goals: 0:1 – Locmelis (Riekstins, Birins), 00:16; 1:1 – Rautiala (Svars), 02:13; 1:2 – Jekimovs (Locmelis, Riekstins), 20:24; 2:2 – Kovalchuk (Korenchuk, Begovs), 24:05; 3:2 – Sprukts (Sarkanis, Andreykiv), 24:44; 4:2 – Stradnieks (Sarkanis, Svars), 29:36; 5:2 – Jansons (Sarkanis, Sprukts), 31:03; 5:3 – Vitols (Mizerak, Tomsons, – power play), 33:14; 6:3 – Korenchuk (Sarkanis, Jansons, – power play), 55:59.
Kyiv Capitals: Romi Huunonen; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Gatis Sprukts (c) – Kevins Stradnieks – Deivids Sarkanis; Pauls Svars – Harijs Brants, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Illia Korenchuk – Rustams Begovs; Ville Rautiala – Jani Siekkinen, Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Renars Cipruss – Kristians Zelts; Anton Romanyshyn – Ivan Shamardin, Denys Honcharenko – Lukas Zukauskas.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Prizma/RTU: Martins Eldmanis (Arturs Skrebutens, 31:03); Kirils Vasiljevs – Matiss Birins, Emils Locmelis – Kristaps Riekstins – Roberts Jekimovs (c); Krists Apsitis – Michael Mizerak, Dmitrijs Zaharovs – Italo Milbergs – Kristers Bormanis; Arturs Tomsons – Alekss Bluks, Nikita Zitserman – Ricards Stamurs – Viktors Klabis; Kirills Opikovs – Arturs Apfelbaums, Roberts Vitols – Reinis Jonuss – Andis Rupeiks.
Head coach: Eriks Miļuns
On October 3, our team will play against Prizma/RTU again, but this time on the opponent’s rink.
