In the Ice Hockey SM league, the winners on Wednesday were HIFK, Ilves, Kiekko-Espoo, Ässät and Sport.
The effective superiority of Helsinki IFK scored five goals to defeat HPK 6-2 in the Helsinki Ice Hall. Jori Lehterä spent a four power point (1+3) night and Kristian Vesalainen of three (1+2). It was a win Ville Peltonen for protected roads, the third in a row.
– We have tried to add a little more versatility to the superiority. Last year it was monotonous. I don’t remember when we would have scored five goals with superiority. There is room for improvement in the five-on-five game, although it got better towards the end of the match. Let’s try to build and learn from mistakes, said Maestro Lehterä.
Pori Ässät surprised the silver team Pelicans with goals 5–2 in Lahti. A hundred-kilogram goalkeeper Topias Rovio21, saved the pot for another win. 36 years old Jan-Mikael Järvinen assisted three goals for the winners, Lenny Hämeenaho and Jonne Tammela put together the powers of 1+1.
Kiekko-Espoo, which won its second consecutive victory, beat Jukurit 6–4 in Mikkeli. 20 years old Kasper Kulonumi (2+0) and a couple of years older Arttu Tuomaala (1+1) opened their SM league goal tap and were among the decisive figures of the capital city. From Jukurei, they reached the opening hits of their league careers Alex Berardinelli (2+1) and Thomas Olsen (1+2). Jukurie’s two most effective players in the early season Max Ellis and Peter Abbandonato were on the sidelines due to illness.
Ilves, who only started the ice hockey league on Wednesday due to the CHL rush, turned a 1–2 loss against TPS into a 4–2 win in the third period Matias Mäntykivin, Daniel Gazdan and Emeli Finland with full hits. The loss was the third in a row for Turku Palloseura.
Lukko bounced when playing without a goalkeeper, with 1+1 balance by Karlson Kuhlman with success at the end of regular time to 2–2 and alongside Sport. In the end, however, the victory went to Sport through the winning goal contest with a score of 3–2.
Stanley Cup winner Ville Nieminen son Viljami Nieminen was the hero of the people of Vaasa with his 2–1 goal and in the winning goal race. Four goals for the people of Rauma in the opening games Jami Krannila was sent to the shower with a big penalty at the beginning of the second period.