Oleg Tymchenko’s team defeated Liepaja without much difficulty.
Kyiv Capitals (Ukraine) – Liepaja (Latvia) – 6:2 (3:0; 1:0; 2:2)
Goals: 1:0 – Honcharenko (Tsarkovskyi, Augstkalns, – power play), 12:52; 2:0 – Bajaruns (Begovs, Karsums, – power play), 14:28; 3:0 – Kryvonozhkin (Novikovs, Sirokovs), 15:30; 4:0 – Fursa (Zelts), 33:29; 5:0 – Begovs (Andreykiv), 46:37; 5:1 – Stradnieks (Vutkevics, Snepste), 47:11; 5:2 – Snepste, 48:59; 6:2 – Bajaruns (Karsums, Kryvonozhkin, – power play), 57:05.
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 – Ivan Shamardin, Denys Honcharenko – Danylo Tsarkovskyi – Renars Cipruss; Oleksii Melnykov – Valentyn Sirchenko, Marat Saroka – Daniil Fursa – Kristians Zelts.
Head coach: Oleg Tymchenko
Liepāja: Michael Valenta; Ralfs Grinbergs (c) – Gustavs Krumins, Kevins Stradnieks – Rinalds Vutkevics – Karlis Ozolins; Pauls Svars – Kristians Berzins, Kristers Kuznecovs – Rudolfs Laivenieks – Daniels Andersons; Adrians Berzins – Alberts Emils Snepste, Endijs Butans – Kristers Butans – Sandis Cionelis; Reinholds Circenis – Miks Lindbergs, Ignas Kaupaitis – Michail Puzikov – Niklavs Lagzdins.
Head coach: Edgars Brancis
For their final match before the international break, Oleg Tymchenko’s team took to the ice with an almost unchanged lineup. The only exception was Fursa, who had missed the game against Panter, but joined the fourth line for this match.
The main task for the Capitals was to contain the league’s most productive duo – Stradnieks and Ozolins. Jumping ahead, Kyiv almost succeeded.
The key to the hosts’ success was the stretch from the 12th to the 16th minute. The first step was converting their debut power play of the match: Honcharenko finished off the effort from Augstkalns and Tsarkovskyi with an accurate shot to make it 1:0.
Full of energy, the hosts converted another power play. This time, it was the first offensive line: Bajaruns turned Begovs’ pass into the second goal of the game. For Lauris, this tally was his milestone 10th of the season.
To complete the set, the second line added a goal as well. Kryvonozhkin did excellent work in front of the crease and pushed the puck past Valenta. For Andrii, this goal was also his 10th of the season.
Thus, the teams headed into the first intermission with the Capitals leading by three.
In the second period, the fourth line extended the advantage. Estonian forward Daniil Fursa scored his 10th goal of the Optibet League season.
Early in the third period, Kyiv’s lead grew to five. Off a faceoff win, Begovs tipped in Andreikiv’s shot. Naturally, beyond the forwards’ efforts, it’s essential to highlight Voris’ performance – he made 33 saves throughout the game.
However, Liepaja managed to narrow the gap slightly. Stradnieks finally scored his goal, and Snepste cut the difference to three.
Still, the final say belonged to the Capitals, who scored their third power-play goal of the night. Karsums found Bajaruns in front of the net, and Lauris completed his brace, sealing the final score. 6:2 – the eighth consecutive win for the Kyiv Capitals in the Optibet League.
With this result, Oleg Tymchenko’s team strengthened its lead and now sits one point ahead of Mogo/RSU, with two games in hand.
Kyiv Capitals will play the next match on December 17, against Energija.
