Ässät broke Luko’s winning streak of 11 matches in the SM league. Kärpät got a relief win and KooKoo increased his point streak.
In the ice hockey SM league, Pori’s Ässät arrived for the second night of Satakunta’s Winter Klassikko dressed up. Aces defeated local opponent Luko in front of a packed audience with goals 4–1.
Konkar, who finished twice in the opening set, became the hero of Pori residents Olli Palola and points 1+2 manufactured Peter Tiivola. They made sure that Luko’s winning streak of no less than 11 matches was broken on Saturday night.
The 36-year-old Palola scored his first goal in the opening set from a small corner by Lukko-vahti Joni Ortion through and struck again a few minutes later. The former goal king has already scored 12 times this season.
Ortio joutui, who moved from Ässi to Lukko in the middle of the season, had already received fierce boos from Ässi’s supporters on Friday. On Saturday, the people of Pori got to celebrate several times at the expense of their former goalkeeper.
In the second set, Lukko was already ready to join the match, when Jami Krannila skated through. Aces guard Niklas Rubin however, blocked the attempt and Ässät was able to strike a moment later with superiority I flew to Hämeenahon by hitting the game already 3–0. At the end of the set, Tiivola embellished the readings with his guidance.
An easy win for Kärp
Kärppien’s goalkeeper in the other matches of the evening Tomi Karhunen breathed a sigh of relief when the final buzzer sounded, when the Oulu team won 3–2 with quick goals in the final set. Jukurit was on top of his game in the match, but Michal Kovarcic too and Teemu Turunen the goals turned the game around for Oulu.
Kärpät has recently been one of the weakest teams in terms of fitness and is tenth in the league.
League champion Ilves moved only five points away from league leader Luko when they beat TPS 1–0. More than 10,000 spectators were able to celebrate an Ilves goal for the first and only time in 55:47, when John Nyberg scored his first goal in the SM league.
KooKoo and HPK in top form
On the other hand, KooKoo, who has been on top form lately, beat the struggling Pelicans with a score of 3–2. KooKoo stretched his scoring streak to nine games and the Pelicans lost for the fourth time in a row.
In addition to Lahti, Tappara and Kiekko-Espoo’s losing streaks also stretched to four matches. Tappara lost to HPK 3–4 in overtime and K-Espoo lost to KalPa 0–3 at home.
HPK’s winning goal was completed by Heikki Huttunen with his second hit of the evening. HPK is on a four-game winning streak.
The results of the SM league round and all the goals can be found on teletext.
Urheilu’s expert Topi Nättinen and journalist Jussi Paasi wondered about the Pelicans’ press release regarding coaching in the 5-minute video.