Oleg Tymchenko’s team managed to come back thanks to a strong third period and then snatched the victory in overtime.
Prizma (Latvia) – Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – 3:4, OT (1:0; 1:0; 1:3; 0:1)
Goals: 1:0 – Riekstins (Gabrans), 08:17; 2:0 – Brahmanis (power play), 38:13; 2:1 – Jansons (Fursa, Begovs, – double power play), 43:36; 2:2 – Jansons (Bajaruns, Karsums, – power play), 43:49; 2:3 – Jansons (Andreykiv, Kovalchuk), 53:05; 3:3 – Jekimovs (4×4), 55:35; 3:4 – Fursa, 62:33.
Series score – 0:2.
Prizma: Martins Eldmanis; Aleksandr Erofeeev – Deniss Kornilovs, Emils Ezitis – Emils Locmelis – Roberts Jekimovs; Krists Apsitis – Italo Milbergs, Haralds Gabrans – Kristaps Riekstins – Edis Brahmanis (c); Toms Barens – Reinis Virsnitis, Roberts Vorona – Valters Apfelbaums – Matiss Birins; Ilja Grekovs, Ricards Jelenskis – Ricards Stamurs – Gustavs Alberts Moruzs.
Head coach: Eriks Miluns
Kyiv Capitals: Nazar Boiko; Vitalii Andreykiv – Eduards Hugo Jansons, Martins Karsums (c) – Lauris Bajaruns – Rustams Begovs; Daniel Klinecky – Alberto Colli, Yang Hu – Andrii Kryvonozhkin – Aleksandrs Novikovs; Ivan Shamardin – Andrejs Kostjuks, Mykhailo Kovalchuk – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Daniil Fursa; Oleksii Melnykov, Valentyn Sirchenko – Denys Honcharenko – Renars Cipruss.
Head coach: Oleh Tymchenko
Kyiv Capitals entered the second game of the series with a few minor lineup changes. Augstkalns was unable to take part in the match, while Cipruss returned to the roster after recovering from an injury.
The first period was played at a fairly calm pace. There were no penalties, and a single goal decided the period. Riekstins was first to the rebound after a shot by Gabrans and opened the scoring.
In the second period, most of the chances for both teams came on the power play. The Kyiv side looked active during their two minutes with the man advantage, but Eldmanis, who started in goal for Prizma, performed well.
The hosts, meanwhile, spent more than seven minutes on the power play. Hu received a 5+20 penalty, and the Riga side took advantage once, thanks to a goal by Brahmanis.
At the start of the third period, the Capitals were killing a penalty, but then the hosts began taking penalties themselves. Birins received four minutes, and Grekovs added another two. The trend of goals by defensemen continued: within 13 seconds, Jansons scored twice – first on a double power play and then on a regular one.
In the 54th minute, the visitors took the lead for the first time. Once again, the defensemen played a key role. Andreykiv found Jansons with a precise pass through the zone, and the Latvian defender completed his hat trick with a one-timer. It was already his fourth goal of the series against Prizma.
A controversial moment occurred with the score at 2:3. After a shot by Novikovs, the puck seemed to cross the goal line for the fourth time, but the referees didn`t signal a goal. In the very next attack, the Riga side equalized. Jekimovs fired a powerful shot into the top corner, leaving Boiko with no chance.
The final minutes of regulation saw Tymchenko’s team on the power play, but the home defense, led by Eldmanis, held firm, sending the game into overtime.
The key moment of extra time came when Erofeev was penalized. Although the Capitals failed to convert the power play, just eight seconds after the fifth skater returned to the ice, Fursa scored the game-winning goal.
Thus, the Kyiv team extended its lead in the series to two victories. The teams will meet again for Game 3 on March 18.
