On Thursday evening, ‘s Jääkiekkokierros will watch the SC league quarterfinal match Ilves – KalPa and the third final of the Women’s League HIFK – Kiekko-Espoo. Broadcast from 6:10 p.m.
The HIFK konkar became the biggest topic of conversation in the quarterfinals of the Ice Hockey SM League Leo Komarov dozing off in the closing moments of the Pelicans match.
Komarov forged the ground in the ice Michal Jordan based on video images, to the back and neck or head area. The incident seen in the final moments of the match was transferred to the disciplinary delegation of the SM League.
– He crossed all boundaries in that. It’s not part of hockey, and it’s not desirable behavior in any way, but a completely punishable act. It cannot be justified in any way, Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen says.
“Nervous control failed”
HIFK was down 1–3 with three and a half minutes left in the game. In practice, HIFK had every chance to equalize and win the match. In the end, the game ended with a score of 4–2 for the Pelicans.
– Now he robbed the team of the opportunity to seek an equaliser.
After the match, HIFK’s head coach Ville Peltonen did not mention Komarov by name, but he clearly referred to the act of conkar in his comments.
– We still had a little nervous control failure at the end, and there was everything that could be done that was not winning, Peltonen stated.
Nättinen reflects on the significance of Komarov’s act also in terms of team chemistry.
– When the team has gone to the booth and Komarov has been there, I don’t think the feeling has been good. Someone might have said, hey, we had mahis in this match, but I had to do it that way.
Komarov received jet commands
Komarov, who has earned merit in his career in the NHL, KHL and Leijon, arrived at HIFK with high expectations. As a role player in the four chain, his purpose was to bring energy to his team with tackles and confusion.
However, Konkar’s season started with a nasty injury that kept him out of the rinks until mid-January. After that, according to Nättinen, Komarov started positively, but in the last few weeks his contribution has not been at the expected level.
For example, in the last rounds of the regular season, Komarov was sent off in the closing moments of the Kärpät game. In the overtime of the TPS match, he received the third conduct penalty of the season, which resulted in a one-match suspension.
Nättinen reminds that Komarov should be at his best in the most important games of the season.
– I expected that his ability to confuse and annoy would benefit the team and he would keep his cool. All these situations in the last matches have been things that should not have been done.
– I am very confused that he has solved the end of the season in this way with such an experience.
This is how Komarov commented
Komarov commented on his shower command after the match Ilta-Sanom. He recounted how at first Antti Pihlström tackled Jordan, causing the defender to fall to the ice.
– I saw the puck in it, but of course I gave a few blows to the back. Nothing more, Komarov told Ilta-Sanom.
– I still have to take a closer look at the situation. There was a bit of bad luck in the situation where he fell just before that.
From Nättisten, Komarov’s comments sounded like he knew he did wrong, but tried to mask his actions with his comments.
– I see much better ways to aim for the puck than to hit the opponent in the neck. The best thing to do would be to admit your mistake and raise your hand.
– No one believes that kind of babbling or explanation.
Ritchie got the long cake
The SM League’s disciplinary delegation is supposed to give its decision on the matter during Thursday. There are a couple of similar control situations in the SM league.
In December, Kärppien Nick Ritchie was banned for eight games for his punches Markus Nurmeen. In January, Tapparan Nicholas the Baptist in turn received a one-match suspension. In both situations, the opponent was on the surface of the ice.
Ritchie’s punishment was compounded by his punch to the neck. Ritchie was found guilty of five strikes and Baptiste two.
Nättinen estimates Komarov’s situation to be somewhere between the two cases, but clearly closer to Ritchie.
– Depending on the interpretation, at least 4–6 blows are aimed at the head, neck or back of a completely defenseless player.
According to Nättinen, the SM league needs to send a message again that this is not allowed.
– The act was outrageous and unnecessary. I would have imagined that we would not see such things, because a similar act has been punished.
The moped got out of hand
When Komarov signed a two-year contract with HIFK, Nättinen also saw threats in the cooperation. However, he did not believe that the moped would get out of hand in such a bad way.
– He is paid quite a lot as a four-court player, but now it has not been seen what the salary is actually paid for. Confusion and cubicle life are big things, but I feel like now he hasn’t added value to either.
– He has been signed for these spring games and the minimum performance would be to stay in the rink. If he fails radically in that task, it will be a huge disappointment for himself and HIFK.