22-year-old Toni Utunen succeeded in his first club match against Tappara in the SM league finals.
In the finals of the Ice Hockey SM League, we saw a real surprise decider when the Pelicans defender Toni Utunen you put the puck into the net wonderfully.
Utusen’s art brought an important opening goal for the Lahti people and eventually led the team to a 4–1 victory. At the goal post, Utunen calmed down for a moment, got into an even better place right in front of the goal and picked up the puck from his knuckle Christian Heljangon through to the network.
– It was from there somewhere on the bottom of a rusty gimmick bank that I finally got the lid open. I’ve always known that I can do more than just throw a butterfly at the goal, Utunen carved.
Did the bet go where you wanted?
– Well, who believes, who doesn’t. Yes, it almost went there. It was a bit low, I can admit that, but roughly.
Tappara is a familiar club to Utusen, as he moved from Kokkola’s Hermès to the blue-oranges at the age of 12. The 22-year-old Utunen also played in the SM league in the club, but moved to Pelicans last season.
Now he silenced an audience of over 12,000 people in Tampere.
– Yes, it felt good, I’m not saying that, but in the game you have to keep the focus on the future, so it wasn’t celebrated anyway. Yes I reset it in the same second.
The finish had been painful for the Pelicans before Saturday, because in the two previous matches it was only successful once. Now the Pelicans scored three goals in a draw and one in addition to an empty net.
Pelicans also defended more stoutly, especially in front of their own goal, where Tappara had been very strong at the beginning of the series.
However, Utunen managed himself Veli-Matti Savinainen From the 1–2 reduction. After the hit, Tappara hit a hard gear shifter, which just broke Iikka Kangasniemi to hit
– Yes, attention was paid to playing in front of the goal. Tappara got too many goals and plots. We were still too soft.
– In that only goal, I had the bat in my hand a little shaky and Savinainen was able to putt. You have to be better at it personally. Tape the bat so it stays in your hand and won’t fly, Utunen told himself.
Many did not believe after Tappara’s victory on Friday that the Pelicans would have any more chances against Tappara, especially in the Tampere arena. Utus was asked if the Pelicans answered their doubters with Saturday’s performance.
– Well, I don’t know if (this one) was or not. As a team, we have always believed that we can win. We don’t set out to prove anything to anyone. We play our own game and the result is what we are capable of.
Utunen thinks that some of the Pelicans players look at magazines during the finals and some don’t. Personally, it doesn’t matter to him if they come to the eyes.
– There are so many things on Some, but I don’t feel that they affect me personally. If somehow, then more bring motivation. The gang doesn’t believe, but we do. It is important.
Puhe’s Jääkiekkierros follows every final match of the SM league. The broadcast of the final on Tuesday starts at 18:10 and the match at 18:30.