Ilves silenced the Pori audience – KalPa’s four-chain platforms flew into the shower, Ismo Lehkonen reminded of the meaning of “controlled passion”

Ilves claimed a 3–1 win over Pori and is one win away from the semi-finals. The place in the semi-finals is also locked up by Pelicans, who beat KalPa in their home arena and moved ahead in the series with a 3–2 win.

KalPa and Pelicans’ and Luko’s and HIFK’s quarterfinal series continue on Saturday at 5 p.m. Puhe’s Jääkiekkokierros follows all playoff matches.

On Monday, Ässät scored the first goal in each set against Ilves and tied the match series at 1–1 by winning the match 5–2.

Now on Friday, Ilves was sharp right from the start. At the end of the first minutes of Myllytsi Joona Ikonen served For Balázs Sebokand the Hungarian tapped the puck with his knuckle into the upper corner in 3:27.

Aces leveled immediately. 18 years old Lenny Hämeenaho lit up the sold-out Isomäki arena in 3:52 with the first playoff goal of his career. Hämeenaho drove a sharp wrist shot from the starting point into the back top corner.

In the middle of the match, experienced in 29:58 Jarno Koskiranta36, had forgotten to get free in front of the goal. Santeri Virtanen wrapped a namupass from behind the goal and Koskiranta, who moved from SaiPa to Ilves in the middle of the season, lifted the puck up from close range.

In the third set, Ilves’ captain Eemeli Finland in 52.56, the tassel ears hit decisively for a 3–1 lead.

At the end, Ässät looked for a goal without a goalie, and Koskiranta scored his second goal of the evening into an empty goal. Final scores for Ilves 4–1. Ilves took the lead in the match series with a 3–1 win. The place in the semi-finals is up for grabs in Tampere on Sunday in the match starting at 17:00.

Ilves managed to score in both the second and third period in the middle of a good period for Ässie.

– Nice win. Good robbery for us. The beginning of the second period was weaker, but after the goal we got the game together again. All in all, a good game from us, Koskiranta said to Puhe’s Ice Hockey Round.

Koskiranta played in a foursome flanked by 23-year-old Virtanen and Eetu Päkkilä.

– We have done well here before. It has some pretty good trail machines next to it. I myself then come a little behind and watch where the guys put the pucks.

The 18-year-old Ässä goalscorer Hämeenaho brought up the fighting outfit.

– Everything matters. If you fall behind a bit, it’s suddenly a place for the opponent.

Ilves has won their home games 5–1 and 4–1, but in Pori Ässät has been better involved. Hämeenaho admitted that home games have felt different.

– It’s a bit faster here, and the playing is not quite so systematic. We need to get more of this game to Tampere as well.

The Pelicans controlled their fervor

In Lahti, we started the match with the series tied at 2–2. The exciting situation was seen in the middle of the first period, when KalPan Aleksi Klemetti flew into the shower off the crossbar.

The Pelicans Aatu Jämsen and Klemetti clashed in front of the changing rooms. The two shared cross clubs to each other alternately, but then Klemet’s club went up in Jämsen’s face. The jury withdrew to investigate the situation on video, and the result of the investigation was a 5+20 minute penalty.

After the elimination situation, the Pelicans Lars Bryggman opened the paint taps, then KalPan Matyas Kestner smoothed out. The goals were scored in a draw, because Jämsen also served a two-minute penalty.

The first set saw a third hit, when Bryggman hit again, now with an upper hand, and took the lead for the home team in 14:58.

Also after the middle of the second set, the Kuopio native flew to the side of the shower. Andreas Okany was passed out from a wing tackle when he clipped the Pelicans captain from the back in a corner Miika Roinetta. Consequently, both platforms of KalPa’s four chain had been shut down.

The Pelicans succeeded with a five-minute lead. Lukas Jasek deflected the goalkeeper By Robin Rahm on the ice and moved the puck into the net, 3–1. KalPa’s number one keeper Juha Jatkola was injured on Monday and has not been in the lineup since.

On Puhe, an expert spoke about the “controlled frenzy” of playoff hockey. In KalPa, the passion came out in the wrong way.

– The Pelicans are aware of it, let the other one get excited and fool around, and play disciplined themselves, Lehkonen said after the second set.

The third period was scoreless. The Pelicans won 3–2. The series is interrupted on Saturday in Kuopio.

KalPa and Pelicans’ and Luko’s and HIFK’s quarterfinal series continue on Saturday at 5 p.m. Puhe’s Jääkiekkokierros follows all playoff matches.