December 22, 18:30, Liepaja, Liepaja Olympic Centre Ice Arena.
For the second time in 16 days, the teams coached by Oleg Tymchenko and Edgars Brancis will face each other. This time, however, the roles are reversed, with the opponents hosting the matchup.
Liepaja, which was not long ago leading the standings, has suffered three defeats in its last five games – against Zemgale/LBTU, Mogo/RSU, and Kyiv Capitals – and currently sits in fourth place.
Following the international break, Liepaja has played one match, in which the team confidently defeated HS Riga 7:2.
It is also worth noting that in their most recent outing, Kyiv Capitals saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end, relinquishing first place to Mogo/RSU. With the Riga side already heading into a Christmas break, the Capitals have a chance to reclaim the top spot in the standings.
However, considering the current championship situation, it is worth noting that Zemgale/LBTU and Liepaja are both just four points behind Kyiv. Accordingly, the value of a victory in this matchup increases even further.
This game will already be the fourth meeting of the season between Kyiv Capitals and Liepaja. Tymchenko’s team has claimed two wins, while their opponents have won once. The most recent head-to-head encounter broke away from the pattern of tight overtime battles and ended in an emphatic 6:2 victory for the Kyiv side.
Therefore, Monday evening promises to be a heated one, with both the standings implications and the opportunity to close out the year on a high note at stake.
