In the Ice Hockey SM League, KooKoo defeated SaiPa in the winning goal competition after a wild goal production.
SaiPa and KooKoo offered a wild show in the local battle of Kaakko in Lappeenranta. The game was decided only in the winning goal competition, when KooKoo took the extra point with goals 7–6.
The people of Kouvola had more to offer, as they led the game going into the final set 5–3 and later seven minutes before the end 6–4.
However, SaiPa struggled to the levels By Ondrej Trejbal and Antti Kalaputaa with hits. Losing the full point pot cost KooKoo two goals Arttu Ilomäkä.
– I haven’t been in a game like this, Ilomäki told Urheilu.
– We had the keys to win that game and then something happened. We took our foot off the gas and the guy started doing more work. It looks like that if you’re not with the hundred, Ilomäki regretted.
According to Ilomäki, KooKoo secured the entire third period. He regretted that the people of Kouvola, for example, didn’t care or give pressure.
– Of course, it has to be done smartly, but we also didn’t play tight midfield. We went small when we should have been working. Of course it’s easy to say now, but we have to grow from these and develop as a team.
– Fortunately, we won. I think three were acceptable and now we got two. However, big points for everyone. Yes, this sucks.
In the match, KooKoo especially made its superiority work, as it scored three superiority hits. Before tonight, it had managed to play 16 overtimes without success.
Ilomäki scored two goals. He especially fanned his first goal in a flash.
– It’s not an everyday treat that I score a goal. Yes, it always feels good.
The match was won by Charle-Edouard D’Astous, who also scored 1+2 in regular time. Kouvola’s Petter Emanuelsson scored four assists, and Otto Paajanen (1+1) and Radek Koblizek (0+2) had a two-point night along with Ilomäki.
SaiPan Adam Helewka scored 1+2 as well. They reached the evening with two points Antoine Morand (2+0), Trejbal (1+1) and Otto Kivenmäki (0+2).
Kilpeäläinen’s shirt on the roof
In Saturday night’s match against Jukurei, KalPa was stopped by a club legend Eero Kilpeläinen game number before the match. Kilpeläinen, who played with number 37, is the fifth player in the club’s history to receive the same honor.
Kilpeläinen, who ended his playing career a year ago, is the goalkeeper who has played the most regular season matches in SM league history. He played in the SM league for 37 seasons.
League:
HIFK-Ilves 2-5 (1-1, 0-1, 1-3)
Kärpät-HPK 2-0 (0-0, 0-0, 2-0)
Lock Aces 2-0 (2-0, 0-0, 0-0)
SaiPa-KooKoo vl. 6-7 (2-3, 1-2, 3-1, 0-0, 0-1)
Sport-Pelicans 5-1 (1-1, 2-0, 2-0)
Tappara-JYP 3-4 (1-0, 1-2, 1-2)
KalPa-Jukurit later.