Tappara’s year changes in minor winning moods. On Monday, Pelicans broke Rikard Grönborg’s proteges, and Ilves got past the reigning champion in the series.
Having suffered its second consecutive loss, Tappara was toothless in the last game round of the hockey league, when the Pelicans beat Tappara with a score of 7–1.
Lubos Horky (2+2), Iikka Kangasniemi (0+3) and Leevi Tukainen (2+0) is the power trio of Lahti residents.
– We weren’t in trouble at the beginning with an even field, but the opponent was efficient and scored two overtime goals. It’s always difficult to get behind three goals – especially when the game was our third in four days and our lineup has changed from one match to the next, said Tappara’s coach Rikard Grönborg.
The match was already decided in the first period, where Pelicans took a three-goal lead. Juha Realm of the forest was allowed to make room at that point Paavo Kohonen Tappara’s goal.
The opening set also featured “Monday night dances”, where Antti Tyrväinen and Joni Tuulola went to the shower after the cufflinks.
– In the opening set, which we won 3–0, the goal posts were equal 3–3. After that, however, we were a better team on the court, the Pelicans’ head coach saw Juhamatti Yli-Junnila the game.
In the last seven rounds of the calendar year, Tapparan was surprisingly weak, when JYP, Ässät and Pelicans forged a goal difference of 13–1, crushing the carrots in the net.
Continuation of the Mäntykivi pipe
Ilves showed the bottom of the league, Jukurei, who played their third game in four days, with a convincing 5-0 home win in front of more than 10,000 spectators.
The value of the victory was further increased by the fact that Tappara, who had played two more matches, was behind in the standings.
– There was nothing left to worry about. The intention was to stay in the game, but with the energy we had on the field today, it was impossible, Jukurie coach Marko Tuomainen comment.
Eemil Laurell steered Ilves into the lead with his opening goal of his league career. It ended up being the winning goal as well, when Jakub Malek took his third clean sheet of the season with only five saves, which is the record for the lowest number of saves in the league.
Lynx Matias Mantykivi scored the fourth goal and increased his scoring streak to twelve matches already. This season’s longest streak is HIFK’s Jori Lehterän (13 matches) in the name.
– I have to be really satisfied with everyone and also the guys who have risen to playing and bigger roles. Everyone plays for the logo, praised the Ilves coach Tommi Niemelä.
Series table