Oleg Tymchenko’s side failed to reclaim the top spot in the standings following the final game of 2025.
Liepaja (Latvia) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 3:2, OT (1:0; 1:2; 1:0; 1:0)
Goals: 1:0 – Stradnieks, 12:31; 1:1 – Hu (Honcharenko, Novikovs, – power play), 23:44; 1:2 – Karsums (Bajaruns), 37:19; 2:2 – Andersons (Svars), 43:42; 3:2 – Krumins (Vutkevics, Grinbergs), 63:27.
Liepaja: Michael Valenta; Ralfs Grinbergs (c) – Gustavs Krumins, Dominykas Sadauskas – Kevins Stradnieks – Karlis Ozolins; Pauls Svars – Alberts Emils Snepste, Niks Zile – Rinalds Vutkevics – Daniels Andersons; Kristians Bērzins – Reinholds Circenis, Endijs Butans – Roberts Freidenfelds – Kristers Butans; Adrians Berzins – Luka Vodlan, Ignas Kaupaitis – Kristers Kuzņecovs – Niklavs Lagzdins.
Head Coach: Edgars Brancis
Kyiv Capitals: Janis Voris; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Maksims Sirokovs – Edmunds Augstkalns, Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Aleksandrs Novikovs; Andrejs Kostjuks – Valentyn Sirchenko, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Renars Cipruss; Oleksii Melnykov, Marat Saroka – Daniil Fursa – Kristians Zelts.
Head Coach: Oleg Tymchenko
In their final game of the year, Kyiv Capitals took the ice with a largely familiar lineup, with a few exceptions. Shamarin missed the match due to suspension, while Fursa returned to the lineup after an absence.
The importance of the win was high given the ongoing battle at the top of the standings. The hosts made the first move toward victory. One of the league’s top scorers, Stradnieks, together with Sadauskas, applied heavy pressure on the Capitals’ defense, allowing Kevins to beat Voris and record his 42nd point of the season.
After the goal, fans threw toys onto the ice that they had prepared in advance. The organizers promised to donate them to children in Liepaja and Riga, including both Latvian and Ukrainian children.
Early in the second period, the Capitals restored parity by converting their first power play. Honcharenko set up Hu in a prime shooting position, and the Canadian made no mistake.
Kyiv went into the second intermission in the lead. This time, Bajaruns won the puck near Valenta’s net, while Karsums found space in the slot and beat the Czech goaltender on his second attempt.
However, the start of the third period belonged to Edgars Brancis’ side. Andersons drove toward the net from the blue line and fired a powerful shot to level the score.
The Capitals finished regulation time shorthanded, but the hosts were unable to snatch the win. Kyiv also had a similar opportunity during a power play in overtime, but failed to capitalize.
Instead, Liepaja defended successfully and scored the decisive goal. Krumins faked out Honcharenko and sent the puck precisely into the corner of Voris’ net. As a result, two of the three overtime games between these opponents have ended in favor of the Liepaja.
The earned point allowed Oleg Tymchenko’s team to draw level on points with Mogo/RSU, though not to overtake them. The Capitals still have a game in hand, with their season resuming on January 7 with an away match against Zemgale/LBTU.
