Tappara had beaten TPS seven times in a row in mutual matches before Friday, but Tommi Miettinen coached by Palloseura registered for the quarter-final series with Friday’s home win.
TPS turned its opening goal deficit into a 4–2 victory when Viljami Marjala, Casimir Jürgens, Lukas Wernblom were passed by Tappara’s goalkeeper Christian Heljangon, who had to take a couple of setbacks. The final figures of the TPS were empty Aidan Dudas.
They were responsible for Tappara’s hit Brother Matti Savinainen and without a goalie when playing past the puck by Filip Lindberg rhymed Petri Kontiola.
– Tappara was left on the racks again at the beginning. TPS, on the other hand, relied on their own attack and the puck game, which often becomes a reward. When you look at the six games played in this series, the 1-1 situation can be considered deserved, Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen evaluate.
Tappara had plenty of time to get back into the game, but this time the champion, known for numerous chases in the regular season, could not get alongside the opponent. Camper Carter hit the post of TPS once in the second set.
Head coach of the Tampere team Rikard Grönborg pointed out that the team had more than two goal chances today.
– Today we actually played better than in the first quarter-final – especially the second half of the match. We need to win more playoff wrestling duels in corners and also in front of the goal, emphasized the Swedish pilot.
In the third set, TPS spoke Aarne Intonen rivet Right in the middle, which looked like a knee-jerk reaction. However, the jury did not look at it from the videos, as Tappara’s young attacker did not stay lying on the ice and got up immediately.
The Pelicans took advantage of Taponen’s mistakes
HIFK goalkeeper Roope Taponen a gross mistake led to the fact that the Pelicans Lubos Horky was able to easily score a 2–1 winning goal in 57.08. At the end Ryan Lasch and Juhamatti Aaltonen sealed the Pelicans final numbers 4–1.
– HIFK had enough chances to win in the match. It’s harsh from the team’s point of view that there was such a loss, expert Nättinen commented.
Taponen passed the puck from behind his goal directly to Horky’s shoulder, who had an easy job of putting the decisive 2-1 hit in his backpack, silencing Nordis at the same time.
– The field master’s peculiar, disgusting little bounce behind the goal. Roope Taponen would like that back. It is interesting who the goalkeeper will start on Saturday in Lahti, expert Nättinen thought and hinted that Niko Hovinen may become IFK’s goalkeeper for the third match.
Taponen was uncertain even at the beginning and he absorbed an easy line drive in the opening set, but luckily for the home team, the situation was whistled for offside at that point.
HIFK was at least ahead of Napsu in terms of play, but Pelicans defended their goal strongly at the same time. Pelicans took a 1–0 lead in the second period when Aatu Jämsen surprised in front of the goal with a knuckleball quite easily Roope Taponen in time 34.06.
– Räkänen’s goal, from the middle of four HIFK players. A challenging situation for the goalkeeper, but you just have to fight them off if you dream of winning the Finnish championship, said Nättinen as an expert.
Joonas Rask pounced on the loose puck, throwing himself in front of the goal at the beginning of the second period of HIFK’s 1–1 draw. That was the end of the home team’s joys.
– Today’s matches were massively big for the home teams, because the next match is immediately tomorrow in the away bowl, even though two defeats have been over and done with in history, Nättinen said as ‘s expert.
HIFK’s second consecutive defeat brought a difficult situation. Of the five possible next Pelicans games, it would need to win no less than four to reach the semifinals. The same applies to Jukurei.
Kemppainen sealed the deal with a volley goal
The match between Jukurei and Kärppien was decided in overtime, when Kärppien Joonas Kemppainen came from behind the goal to score a 2–1 winning goal in 71.22.
Jukurit had overwhelmed all offensive chains and defensive pairs in the second quarter. Only the goalkeeper did not change.
– Quite a difficult situation for the players. A pretty strong statement for the players. Better to react to changes in time than too late, stressed Nättinen, an expert in the puck circuit.
Coach of Jukurs Olli Jokinen justified the changes by the fact that in Raksila the team showed a terrible performance.
– Today, playing was freer and our game identity was visible all the time. The goals were just missing. Kärpät defends well and is a professional team with a capital A, commented Jokinen and was happy that the team will get to Oulu by plane for tomorrow’s match.
In the regular season, Jukurit scored 197 goals, only Tappara could score more – exactly 200. Kärpät solved three understrengths in the second period, while Jukurit’s special men kept their cool. In the main series, Jukurit still showed the best superiority in fourth place.
Kärppi’s head coach Ville Mäntymaa told about the goalkeeper rotation principle even before the playoffs. The goalkeeper’s challenge was still a surprise, as he made a good save Tomi Karhunen work as a doorman in Mikkeli.
Saved no less than 38 shots from Mikkeli Niclas Westerholm was excellent in the visitors’ goal. The pilot of the flies Ville Mäntymaa praised his jacket, but was not entirely satisfied with his own.
– The guy was able to develop his own game significantly. So must we. Playing the third set and the overtime was already better, notes Mäntymaa.
2nd quarterfinals of the Ice Hockey Championship League (with 4 wins to the semifinals)
HIFK – Pelicans 1-4 (0-0,0-1,1-3)
34.06 0-1 Jämsen (Tukiainen, Hirvonen)
41.55 1-1 Rask (Kaskimäki, Koivistoinen)
57.08 1-2 Horky (Schnarr, Salminen)
58.42 1-3 Lasch etc
59.30 1-4 Salminen (Aaltonen, Kokko) etc
Goalkeepers: Audience: 8200
Tapone 9+ 2+ 2 = 13
Total 7+10+7 = 24
Wins 0–2
TPS – Tappara 4-2 (2-1,1-0,1-1)
07.59 0-1 Savinainen (Kontiola,Baptiste)
12.21 1-1 Marjala (Lindroth, Nurmi) yv
17.03 2-1 Jürgens (Wernblom, Väisänen)
24.35 3-1 Wernblom (Kulmala, Väisänen)
57.08 3-2 Kontiola (Kemiläinen, Keskinen) im
58.03 4-2 Dudas (Wernblom) etc
Goalkeepers Audience: 7269
Lindbergh 10+ 5+ 9 = 24
Heljanko 12+ 8+ 8 = 28
Wins 1-1
Jukurit – Kärpät je 1-2
13.35 0-1 Björkqvist (Hermonen, Korpimä)
43.25 1-1 Puistola (Jormakka, Helenius)
71.22 1-2 je Kemppainen (Kivistö, Jandus)
Goalkeepers Audience: 3712
Rose 13+ 5+ 8+5 = 31
Westerholm 14+ 8+12+4 = 38
Wins 0–2
The following matches on Sat 23.3.:
Kärpät – Jukurit 17.00
Pelicans – HIFK 17.00
Tappara – TPS 17.00
KalPa – Ilves 17.00