Finnish goaltenders denied victories in the NHL round. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Ville Husso and Juuse Saros succeeded between the posts.
Colorado Avalanche Artturi Lehkonen and the Philadelphia Flyers Rasmus Ristolainen managed to score in great ways in the NHL round of hockey. The Finnish goalkeepers saved only wins in the round.
Having the most effective season of his NHL career, Lehkonen scored his 15th hit of the season in the home game against the Washington Capitals. Lehkonen skilfully led his team to a 1–0 lead in the opening set from in front of the goal.
The 27-year-old Finnish forward, who lifted the puck into the top corner, got a pass From Nathan MacKinnon, who while falling skillfully passed to Lehkonen. The point was the 700th of MacKinnon’s NHL career.
Lehkonen has totaled 34 (15+19) points in 43 games of the season.
Colorado beat Washington 3–2. The win was already the sixth in a row for the Avalanche.
Ristolainen free in front of the goal
Philadelphia puck Rasmus Ristolainen scored his second goal of the season in the home game against Los Angeles. Surprisingly, Ristolainen, who was free in front of the goal, took it James van Riemsdyk too took possession of the pass with his skates and flicked the puck into the half-empty goal with his knuckle.
Ristolainen led the Flyers to a 3–2 lead in the second period, but this only guaranteed Philadelphia a point, as the Kings took the game in overtime 4–3.
Ristolainen scored his first goal of the season a week ago. The 28-year-old defender’s season score from 42 appearances is 2+4=6.
The most effective Finnish player of the round was the skipper of the Florida Panthers Alexander Barkov, who scored two goals in a 6-7 overtime loss against Pittsburgh. The loss was the second in a row for the Panthers, who are chasing a playoff spot.
The power player of the goal celebration was the Penguins’ veteran pack Kris Letang with power points 2+2.
Finnish security guards in action
Nashville Predators prevented victory from the Finnish goalkeepers Juuse Saros, Detroit Red Wings Ville Husso and the Buffalo Sabres Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Saros was chosen as the three star of the match as the Predators celebrated a 2–1 home victory over Winnipeg. Saros recorded 32/33 saves. The Predators celebrated their home victory for the fourth time in a row.
Husso stopped the puck 28/30 times in a 3–2 home overtime win over San Jose.
Luukkonen, who recorded 25/28 saves, got to ventilate in a 5–3 away win over St. Louis.
Välimäki flew into the shower
The Finnish ice-jumping king of the round, on the other hand, was the defender of the Arizona Coyotes who flew into the shower Juuso Välimäki. The 24-year-old defenseman just signed a contract extension with the Coyotes covering next season.
Välimäki saw red at the beginning of the second period, when the Anaheim Ducks took a 2–0 away lead.
Ducks Max Jones punched the Finn in the face moments before the 2–0 goal and Välimäki took revenge by slapping Jones in the lower back right in front of the referee so that the Anaheim striker fell. The referees checked the situation on video after the goal.
Anaheim scored a 3–0 winning goal during the Välimäki freeze and eventually won the game 5–2.
See the NHL tables via this link (Teksti-TV).
The results of the NHL round:
Montreal–Boston 2–4
Philadelphia–Los Angeles and 3–4 PHI: Ristolainen 1+0
Pittsburgh–Florida and 7 to 6 FLA: Barkov 0+1
Tampa Bay–Minnesota 4–2
Detroit–San Jose and 3–2 DET: Husso 28/30 defense.
New Jersey to Vegas and 3–2
Nashville to Winnipeg 2–1 NSH: Saros 32/33 torj.
St. Louis–Buffalo 3–5 BUF: Jokiharju 0+1, Luukkonen 25/28 save.
Arizona–Anaheim 2–5
Colorado–Washington 3–2 COL: Lehkonen 1+0
Vancouver–Chicago 5–2