On Monday, Mogo/RSU were awarded a technical victory over the Kyiv Capitals in the fourth semifinal game of the Optibet Hockey League, played away. The Capitals left the ice in the third period and headed to the locker room. At that moment, Mogo/RSU were leading 5–2. Kristers Ansons scored twice for the Latvian champions, while Ernests Krūms, Gatis Sprukts, and Gints Meija each added one goal.
As in the previous game two days earlier, Henrijs Ančs guarded the net for Mogo/RSU, while Jānis Voris started for the Capitals. Already in the first minute, the Capitals were penalized for an incorrect line change. Just three seconds later, Kyiv forward Sam Hu was also sent to the penalty box for delaying the game. Despite the two-man advantage, the visitors failed to create dangerous chances, and the score remained unchanged.
Shortly after returning to even strength, a linesman rushed a faceoff while Voris was still adjusting his equipment. Elvis Želubovskis took a shot on goal, which angered the Capitals players, leading to a scuffle. As a result, Renarts Bērziņš and Valentyn Sirchenko received offsetting penalties. Kyiv’s Edmunds Augstkalns was then penalized for tripping, and two and a half minutes later Rustams Begovs received the same penalty. During this power play, Mogo/RSU took the lead. Ernests Krūms fired from a sharp angle; the puck dropped in front of the net, and Krūms himself pushed it in through traffic. The Capitals, led by Voris, immediately protested the goal, but after a lengthy video review, it was allowed.
Mogo/RSU forward Aleksandrs Biškins was then penalized for interference, and during that power play the Capitals managed to equalize. Eduards Janson’s stick broke during a powerful swing, and the puck unexpectedly slid to the far post, where Lauris Bajaruns had an easy chance to score.
Early in the second period, another fortunate bounce put Kyiv ahead. Danylo Tsarkovskyi sent the puck deep into the offensive zone, and it bounced unpredictably off the boards to the front of the net. Mykhailo Kovalchuk was in the right place at the right time and scored into the top corner. In the 33rd minute, Ančs made a crucial save to keep Mogo/RSU in the game, catching a shot from Danylo Furs with his glove when the net was nearly empty.
In the next two power plays, Kristers Ansons turned the game around for Mogo/RSU. First, after passes from Deivids Sarkanis and Niks Feņenko, he blasted the puck under the crossbar from the right faceoff circle to tie the game. Five minutes later, Ansons delivered a pass to the crease, where Gatis Sprukts scored to make it 3–2.
The third period continued with intensity and multiple penalties. After play had already been stopped, Tsarkovskyi knocked Timur Solostei to the ice. Mārtiņš Lejnieks and Ivan Shamardin received offsetting penalties, while Augstkalns was handed a double minor (2+2) for roughing. While shorthanded, Kyiv defenseman Alberto Colli struck Sprukts in the head and neck area with his stick, earning a 5+20 major penalty and a game misconduct. On the ensuing power play, Ansons scored again with a shot under the crossbar, and Gints Meija added the fifth goal. Following this, Nazarii Boiko replaced Voris in goal.
With 12 minutes remaining, Sarkanis was penalized for holding, but despite Mogo/RSU being shorthanded, the Capitals immediately received two minor penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. At that point, the Kyiv team left the ice and went to the locker room, resulting in a technical victory for Mogo/RSU.
Game 5 of the semifinal series between Mogo/RSU and the Kyiv Capitals is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1 at 19:15 at Mogo Hall.
Source: mogohalle.lv
(Translated using artificial intellect tool)
About Mogo/RSU
Founded in 2014, Mogo/RSU has become one of the strongest and most decorated hockey clubs in Latvia. The team won the Latvian championship in its very first season and repeated the achievement in 2019, 2024, and 2025. From 2016 to 2017, Mogo/LSPA claimed the Latvian Cup three years in a row, defeating HK Kurbads in each final. The founder and president of Mogo/RSU is Māris Martinsons, who is also a board member of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. The team’s head coach is former Latvian national team player Ģirts Ankipāns. Mogo/RSU’s general manager since the club’s first day is Elviss Želubovskis, who continues to represent the team on the ice as well.
