According to Urheilu’s expert Topi Nättinen, Ben Blood’s antics in the second round turned the direction of the first final.
– We were ready. We learned from the HIFK series that after the break you have to be with everyone and the five together. In the second set, we sagged a bit, but then we remembered how to play the game again.
This is how Tappara’s golden helmet commented Jori Lehterä his team’s 5–1 victory. The readings did not come as a surprise to the listeners of Puhe, because Tappara’s coaching legend Rauno Korpi correctly predicted the final result even before the match in the Ice Hockey round.
– Smart man. The only thing is, when we once played against Classic with sähli batsmen and won the game, he put me in the blanket as the last change. I hold a few grudges, but you bet well, Lehterä sculpted for Urheilu.
– It was a winning game, so it was not remembered badly. We took the sauna sausages and went to the sauna, he continued.
Blood babbled
Lehterä’s chain was again in a strong mood in the match. Lehterä piers Brother Matti Savinainen (1+1) and Christian Tanus scored Tappara’s first two goals in the match.
– Lehterä and Tanus played a really balanced game. Savinainen fooled around with one ice, but a mindless struggle. He got a postponed penalty, which turned into a goal, Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen says.
– When you look at his struggle in front of the goal and at the end, you don’t have to wonder why he has four Finnish championships.
Savinainen’s fooling around didn’t backfire, as both were given punishments for the situation. Similarly, the Pelicans defender Ben Blood took two stupid ices in the second set. The latter didn’t have time to be implemented when Tappara struck without a goalkeeper with six against five.
– It was completely undisciplined from Blood. He couldn’t control his own emotions. Two situations, two goals, where emotion guided. Tried to be smarter than the game, but you can’t afford that. There might have been room in some other series, but these are the moments when you have to calm down, says Nättinen.
The Pelicans were still in the game before Blood’s rants. It even dominated the second set for a long time, about 15 minutes. The Pelicans were able to puck and play boldly in their own familiar style.
– I see that the main reason was Ben Blood’s individual blunders, which turned the situation around. Otherwise, the Pelicans defended really maturely. They had no problem and boldly attacked with the puck.
It will be more and more difficult for the Pelicans in the future
According to Nättinen, Tappara didn’t have to give his best in the end. He believes that, in the future, Tappara will not give equally extensive management periods to Lahti residents.
– Tappara only had to play a few moments of the game at his best level on the puck. When they took the lead, they controlled the rhythm of the game and took over the mental space. They didn’t give anything for free.
– In the future, Tappara will not give the Pelicans such long clips. The Pelicans must be able to take advantage of even shorter periods of possession.
According to Nättinen, the Pelicans’ chances of victory will increase on Friday if the game remains even for a long time. Pelicans from Tampere can’t let the Tampere team lead by more than one goal, because the “masters of freezing” very often leave the opponent Kiri to one or zero goals.
– If the game stays even and both have their moments, of course the Pelicans’ chances of winning will increase. But it must also be said that even Tapparaka didn’t have to measure himself. More of it came from the Pelicans’ mistakes.
The finals of the Ice Hockey Championship League continue on Friday in Tampere at 18:30. Puheen Jääkiekkierros follows all final matches. Friday’s broadcast starts at 18:10.