The surprise of the ice hockey round was the Pelicans from the Netherlands, who defeated Raimo Helminen’s sensational team SaiPa.
The Pelicans, who were at the tail end of the fitness scale in the last ten league games, started their last week before the Christmas break in an orderly manner. The league’s top team, SaiPa, went down handsomely 6–3 in Lahti.
– Massive win for the Pelicans considering how the team has come out recently. There were successes on a wide range of fronts and they got a very good start to a “new beginning”, praised the expert Top Nättinen.
On Monday, the Pelicans came out on social media with an extraordinary video, in which e.g. head coach Juhamatti Yli-Junnila declared that “the current level of activity is not enough and that the professional team will play seriously in the future and give everything on the rink.”
– However, this was only one game, but it gives you self-confidence and a little peace of mind. Time will tell how this “win or out” income will carry forward. In any case, Pelicans’ active and brave playing with five against five, notes expert Nättinen.
Wyatt Kalynuk, Leevi Tukiainen, Hampus Falk, Lubos Horky, Petteri Riihinen and Joona Kumpula were responsible for Lahti’s goals. Ville Petman put together for the guests the power of 1+1, a defender with NHL experience in SaiPa Mark Pysyk opened the goal taps in the League.
– We were behind the whole game. We were just passengers today, congratulations to Pelsui, SaiPa pilot Raimo Helminen admitted.
Before Wednesday, the Pelicans had played eight games without a three-point victory. This week, last season’s silver team will face TPS on Friday in Lahti and Luko on Saturday in Rauma.
Jukurit ended Kärppie’s three-game winning streak and defeated Kärpät in overtime 2–1 in Oulu. Jesper Piitulainen and hit in 61.34 Aleks Haatanen were the celebrated players of Mikkeli. Kärpät got one point when Marcus Björk equalized 1–1 when playing without a goalkeeper.
– Defeat eats like a rat, but you always have to look in the mirror. There was room for improvement in puck determination and efficiency. Committed defending from the team, commented the Kärppie coach Ville Mäntymaa.
KooKoo, who won its second consecutive victory, defeated K-Espoon 5–4 in overtime by Marcus Davidsson with the deciding goal in 61.30. Persistent promotion Kiekko-Espoo rose from 2–4 to 4–4 at the end of regular time and increased their point streak to five games.
HIFK couldn’t get to the top of the league when SaiPa beat them, when Ville Peltonen the protégés “just” won in the hard-fought race with Sport’s goals 3–2. Despite the loss, Sport’s streak reached eight matches already. Iiro Pakarinen brought HIFK to overtime with his 26th hit of the season.
– Sport played well. We weren’t at our best, we have to have discussions with the team about that. However, the tenacity and strength needed in the last lap was found, Peltonen praised his own.
Daniel Mäkiaho was the decider of the RL competition. The attacker clocked 7:55 game time Jasper Kuhta played his first league game. Jasper, 18, is an uncle Kimmo Kuhtawhose game number 9 has been raised by HIFK to the roof of the Ice Hall.
After one loss, Lukko returned to winning ways by defeating KalPa for the second time in a week – this time by 5-3.
Antti Saarela increased his point streak to six by hitting his 10th goal of the season. Steven Jandric, Pathrik Westerholm, Sebastian Repo and Antoine Morand were the other scorers of the Romanian team. Powers 1+1 collected Kasper Simontaival and Jere Karjalainen were a power duo for Kuopio, who have won one of their last four matches.
TPS, which took its second home win in a row, emerged from the mire as Liiga’s power defender Max Lindroth with two late goals against JYP. Playing without a goalkeeper, the Swede first brought TPS to 2–2 in 58:42 and then sank JYP in overtime with his 3–2 goal in 60:12. Been caught up in JYP’s winning streak for a while Nathan Schnarr hit in 55.15.
– I am very satisfied with the performance and the win. We were able to repeat our own game rhythm with four chains. We were patient and fully deserved to win today, TPS coach Tommi Miettinen underlined.
HPK, who found a red thread in away games, improved this time in Pori and beat Ässät 3–0. Jari Sailio, Juuso Ketola and the Latvian winger who played his first league game Anri Ravinskis (1+1) rose to the limelight. Loan officer Philip Lindberg stopped 37 pucks in his shutout.
– Loan brokers Lindberg and Ravinskis were the guarantors of the win. We were efficient and defended with a big heart, the HPK pilot rejoiced Mikko Manner a match whose shots were marked 67–38 for Äss, who remained scoreless.
The club has won four of the last five away matches and its streak of away points increased to five games. The Aces have lost three of their last four games. Niklas Rubin’s the return to goal after the injury was a source of joy for Pada.
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