SaiPa embellished the longest winning streak in its club history to ten matches in a sold-out Kisapuisto with 4,820 spectators. The last time the Lappeenranta puck hall was packed was in 2015 on September 11 against KooKoo.
Raimo Helminen the red-hot proteges were in a two-goal deficit at the start, but came away with a well-deserved 4–3 victory against the champion Tappara. The three-point victory was SaiPa’s ninth in a row.
– Tappara was strong at the end, but we were lucky at that point and our goalkeeper saved a few bad shots, commented Helminen.
For the first two rounds, Tappara was on the feet of the more slippery and hardworking SaiPa, but Aleksi Mustonen Underpowered, he brought the people from Tampere to 3-4 at the beginning of the third period and, with his solo performance, laid the foundation for an exciting end to the game.
Tappara’s good final set and the final crunch fell a little short. SaiPan’s goal was blocked by an ex-NHL keeper Michael Hutchinsonwho started uncertainly, but crowned his night with a couple of brilliant saves in the last seconds.
– The team’s performance in the third set was good. I am satisfied with that, said Tappara’s coach Rikard Grönborg.
They were responsible for SaiPa’s goals Miska Siikonen, Roni Karvinen (1+1), Eero Klintrup and Ville Petman. Defender Saku Salminen had a three-assist night.
SaiPa’s most recent loss is over a month ago, on October 18th.
The ice hockey match, which was fast-paced and included many talking events and ice referees, was good PR for the ice hockey league.
Otto Kivenmäki scored a goal for SaiPa in the second set, with which the home team would have taken a 5–2 lead, if it had been accepted. The puck was not a Tappara keeper Paavo Kohonen in possession, even though the puck was spinning under his body.
– It wouldn’t have been a big injustice if that had been accepted as a goal, ‘s hockey expert Jesse Saarinen commented on the commotion at the puck round.
KooKoo said goodbye to his losing streak
19-year-old goalkeeper Noa Vali kept Turku Palloseura up for a long time, but KooKoo finally won after seven losing games Radek Koblizek 3-2 with an overtime goal.
– More than 50 minutes of good puck, but the last ten were TPS’s. I have to be very satisfied with the two points, admitted KooKoo’s coach Joko Myrrä.
TPS pilot Tommi Miettinen lamented the defender Casimir Jürgens getting sidelined
– Tight and even game. The team’s look and execution was better than in the previous match. The top spots were in the third set and the chances for three points. We fell to five packs, it was a difficult thing for us, admitted Miettinen.
Defender Jimi Finland vaccinated his former club TPS, another hit by KooKoo was also hit by the hard worker in the back lines Kalle Loponen. Behind TPS’s complete hits were Topias Haapanen and Lukas Wernblom.
The loss was bitter for TPS, which experienced its third consecutive loss, because it led twice in the match in Kouvola and was good at the end.
Puck expert Jesse Saarinen summed up why KooKoo can’t score a lot of points, even though sometimes it plays really well.
– In my opinion, KooKoo’s ice hockey is organic play, which is largely based on chance. However, after good episodes, playing the chains usually breaks at some point, and they can’t find a continuation. Then the opponent usually vaccinates.
– If KooKoota is compared to SaiPa, for example, the people of Lappeenranta manage to grind their own tempo game throughout the match – regardless of the result, and the momentum never ends, compares Saarinen.
Kiekko-Espoo beat Kärpä in overtime with 3–2 goals. Peter Quenneville resolved Cameron Hillis (1+1) preliminary work in 62.01.
Kärpät have lost five of their last six games. K-Espoo, third in the series, has instead won six of its last seven matches.
– I believe that with the style of play that Kärpät played today, victories will start to come for them as well, K-Espoo’s coach happy with the victory Jyrki Aho evaluate.
Joachim Rohdin led the league champions to a 2–0 lead in the opening set, but Ville Mäntymaan the troops pushed it even further in the second set Maxim Korpimäki and Marko Anttilan with hits.
Kärpi’s goal in the second period was questionably disallowed. The referee lost eye contact with the puck and blew the whistle too hastily. The result was Arttu Alasiuruan goal disallowance.
– A normal shot, from which the puck dropped in front of the goalie’s save. I think it was a goal, assessed expert Saarinen and understood the frustration of the Oulu camp in the situation.
– Hard workload and a good fight from the team. A fast-paced game where we had our moments. Three mistakes on the puck, which gave us three goals, upset the Kärppien pilot Mäntymaa.
Series table here