HIFK was less than a minute away from the first tie, but Tappara took the game to overtime.
Tappara won the first semi-final of the hockey SM league in Helsinki, when Brother Matti Savinainen hit the decision in the second overtime in 93.49. Tappara won the match 3–2.
The solution to the struggle was seen in the same way that Tappara had brought the game to the levels Petteri Puhakan with a goal just 52 seconds before the end of the third period. This time too, Tappara threw the puck at the goal from the blue line, where the attacker was able to shovel the puck into the net.
In the match, HIFK’s attackers gave a lot of space to Tappara’s defenders on the blue line.
– HIFK’s piers are too low for one reason or another. This was the expected solution. It is a game-philosophical choice that HIFK protects the center of its own region more, Urheilu’s expert Ismo Lehkonen comment on the Ice Hockey round.
– Tappara was able to use the line relatively without pressure. Two goals came from there now, commented Lehkonen.
HIFK was clinging to victory for a long time Iiro Pakarinen at the goal of the second period. The loss was painful for the people of Helsinki, but big for Tappara. After a difficult start, the people of Tampere got their machine started in the match.
– Tappara saw how HIFK started to play. They are able to go through certain things and are able to become stronger than they were today, says Lehkonen.
– From HIFK’s point of view, this was a very stinging defeat mentally and probably physically as well, because they had to put everything on the counter.
HIFK challenged strongly
HIFK challenged Tapparaa in their home arena without prejudice. The people from Helsinki were able to break Tappara’s defensive play with their sharp passes and created several good scoring opportunities.
It got the award after seven minutes, when Alexander Kaskimäki you gurgled by Victor Berglund pass to drive through, and picked up the puck Christian Heljangon through to the network.
– HIFK’s puck game was at a surprisingly good level. They were courageous and dared to challenge Tappara’s defensive template with the strength of the whole five, Lehkonen said after the opening set.
After this, HIFK had chances to score more goals, but Heljanko held on in situations. Therefore, in time 16:32 Walter Merelä was able to score the equalizer from his own loose puck, when Tappara turned quickly to the goal in the attacking area.
– If Tappara can strike quickly, the whole five will recognize it. As an example, this leveling paint, where the structures were in good condition. If HIFK cannot defend these follow-on games, they will definitely lose these matches, Lehkonen already predicted in the opening set.
Heljanko surprised
In the second set, Tappara started strongly, but HIFK got on top of the game again. HIFK also got a 2–1 lead when Iiro Pakarinen took Eetu Koiviston as a result of an ingenious poke to hit the puck into an empty goal.
Tapparan in the last moments of the fast second set Mikael Seppälä was a goal away from equalizing, but in the very last minutes, HIFK had to take the lead with superiority. Only Heljanko disagreed. Even while sitting, he stretched out the shield Roni Hirvonen in the way of the shot.
– It was a hasekish scorpion octopus. Any animals can be developed. Hirvonen probably sees in his nightmares when the pot was empty, Lehkonen was amazed.
The second semi-final of the SM league was also decided in extra time, when Ilves’ defender Leo Loöf scored a 3–2 goal in 62.10. The series will continue on Saturday from 17:00.