The Czech Republic bored the Lions and grabbed a 3–1 victory in the opening of the EHT tournament in Switzerland.
Leijonat started the second EHT tournament of the season by facing the Czech Republic in Pardubice.
Leijonat won the season’s first EHT tournament in Helsinki, i.e. head coach Antti Pennanen baptism of fire. At that time, Finland beat Switzerland in extra time and Sweden and the Czech Republic in regular time, so now Pennasen suffered his first loss as the head coach of the Lions.
Czech got a penalty kick at the beginning of the match when Rasmus Rissanen hooked upside down until it was able to drive through Michal Kovarcic too. Emil Larmi however rejected Kovarcik’s attempt.
An even opening set had been played for about 16 minutes, when Suomen Santtu Kinnunen and Sampo Beach flashed as the Czech Republic unloaded the puck through the plex into the middle area. Domanik Kubalik caught the puck and escaped between the Finnish duo to drive through.
Right at the beginning of the second period, Leijonat got the upper hand. They play in Switzerland Jerry Turkulainen and Harri Pesonen were responsible for equalization. The Turkulainen, who was driving behind the goal, found Pesonen in the middle of the underpowered Czech box, and the striker made no mistake.
Pesonen’s first season in the Suomi shirt has been amazing. He scored 5+2 in three matches in the Helsinki tournament.
Even though the Lions’ offensive play had speed, the positions changed and the puck moved, Finland was in trouble when defending. Kubalik hit the second time in 25:44, when the longer rotation of the Czech Republic was rewarded. Kubalik shot the puck from the start circle under Larmi’s shield hand.
The end of the second period was confusing and uncertain from Leijon. The end of the set was particularly broken, when in the last seven minutes Finland was sentenced to three suspensions, two of them to Harri Pesonen, and one to the Czech Republic. The third set went to the Czech Republic with a 2–1 lead.
In the third period, the Czech Republic was able to keep the Lions out of scoring positions, and at the end Matej Stransky nailed the 3–1 final scores to an empty net.
There are no names from the SM league in the Lions’ group in the Swiss EHT tournament. Representing Swedish HV71 Henrik Borgström had to be sidelined in the last moments due to injury.
Although the opening match was played in Pardubice, it is about the Swiss EHT. Finland will face Sweden on Saturday and Switzerland on Sunday.