Mogo/RSU Beat Sokil Kyiv in Overtime to Reach Continental Cup Second Round

Mogo/RSU, the reigning Latvian ice hockey champions, beat Ukraine's Sokil Kyiv 4:3 in overtime (0:0, 1:2, 2:1, 1:0) on 18 October in the third game of the first round of the IIHF Continental Cup, a European club hockey tournament. The result secured the team a place in the second round, as Mogo/RSU won all three of its first-round games.

How the game unfolded

The opening period was scoreless, although Mogo/RSU was the more active side, firing 11 shots at the opposing goal against five from the Ukrainian team.

In the second period Sokil Kyiv took the lead straight away, as Danil Tishchenko made it 1:0 in the second minute. The Latvian club responded quickly: two minutes later Elvis Zelubovskis equalised, with assists from Kristaps Sotnieks and Kaspars Daugavins. Late in the period Denis Borodajs restored Sokil's lead at 2:1.

In the third period Matvijs Burdakovs extended the visitors' advantage to 3:1 in the tenth minute. The Latvian champions nevertheless fought back: Renarts Berzins scored first, and less than three minutes later Janis Zemitis levelled the score at 3:3.

In overtime Gints Meija scored the winning goal, assisted by Richards Grinbergs and Roberts Kalkis. Mogo/RSU outshot its opponent 40:21 and penalty minutes were 4:2. Karlis Mezsargs and Eriks Vitols were the goaltenders.

Tournament background

In the first round Mogo/RSU beat Lithuania's Elektrenu Energija 6:1 on 16 October and Spain's Club Hielo Jaca 8:1 on 17 October. Last season Britain's Nottingham Panthers won the Continental Cup on home ice, while Mogo/RSU finished fifth.