"Zemgale/LBTU" claim convincing 7:0 win over "Rīgas HS/Dinaburga"
Jelgava's hockey team crushed "Rīgas HS/Dinaburga" 7:0 at home in the Optibet Hockey League, with Patriks Zabusovs and Aleksandrs Novikovs each scoring twice, while goalkeeper Aksels Ozols recorded his first shutout of the season.
"Zemgale/LBTU" secured a convincing 7:0 home victory over "Rīgas HS/Dinaburga" in their third match of the Optibet Hockey League season. Goalkeeper Aksels Ozols stopped all 14 shots he faced, earning his first shutout of the campaign.
Dominant start
The Jelgava side built their advantage in the first period, taking a three-goal lead into the break. Patriks Seilis opened the scoring, followed by a goal from Lauris Bajaruns and a power-play strike from Patriks Zabusovs after the visitors were reduced to four skaters following a penalty to Ivans Zaicevs.
In the second period, Mārtiņš Antons scored the only goal, extending the lead to 4:0. The home team kept up the pressure in the third period — the visitors were again reduced to four players, and Aleksandrs Novikovs converted the power play within under a minute. Zabusovs and Novikovs each added another goal later in the period, sealing the final score at 7:0.
Top performers
Both Zabusovs and Novikovs finished the game with three points each — two goals and one assist apiece. Several other players, including Deniss Fjodorovs, Haralds Jirgens, Gatis Gricinskis and Artūrs Karaša, each recorded two assists.
The hosts also dominated the shot count, firing 35 shots compared to the visitors' 14. Team coaches named Fjodorovs as "Zemgale/LBTU"'s best player, while Kristers Širjajevs received the honor for the visiting side.
Season progress
After two tight season-opening matches — a 3:2 win over the Liepāja hockey team and a 6:5 overtime victory against "Hockey Punks-Mototoja" — this marked "Zemgale/LBTU"'s first decisive win of the season. The team's next match is scheduled for October 3 in Daugavpils, again against "Rīgas HS/Dinaburga".
