Opening win for Pelicans in the SM league finals! EPN’s expert believes that Tapparaa was annoyed – “How did this happen?”

22-year-old Pelicans gamblers Toni Utunen (1+1) and Konsta Hirvonen (1+0) rose Iikka Kangasniemi with as the deciders, when the team from Lahti won 4–1 against Tappara in Tampere and narrowed the wins in the final match series of the SM league to 1–2. Four wins are needed for the championship.

Urheilu’s ice hockey expert Top Nättinen beamed the Pelicans’ young solvers.

– It may have taken them a while to realize the demands of playing here. These are the moments when the mood comes out of the sweater. No more wondering about the great lights and the fact that we are playing in the SM league final. Now let’s remember that this is a winnable game.

Utunen and Hirvonen took the Pelicans to a 2–0 lead with their hits. Kangasniemi made an easy 3-1 goal from a drive through in the third period, when Tappara frantically searched for an equalizer in a 2-1 situation.

– The Pelicans endured the worst avalanche ever. Tappara didn’t get to the best places in the end, Nättinen praised.

Energetic Pelicans

Iikka Kangasniemi, who summed up the effects 1+1, estimated that the 3-1 hit was the most important goals of his career.

– I think it’s a really good performance from us. The opening notes were tight, but then we played bravely and energetically with the puck. We defended with attitude at the end. We fought well against the odds, Kangasniemi said.

In the previous match, the Pelicans were scoreless, but now there were four hits.

– The reason was perhaps that when there was a goal slot, we boldly challenged in the middle, and did not start pushing from small corners, Kangasniemi said.

Tappara defender Mikael Seppälä was not satisfied with the hosts’ appearance.

– It was by no means the best from us. First and foremost, we couldn’t get one of our own games rolling properly. Maybe the guy wasn’t helped enough and pucks were handled in the middle area. We didn’t get long attacks.

– The Pelicans really have a lot of skilled guys. They know how to slow down the game and do cool things with the puck. Hard to keep up with them.

Utunen opened the goal taps

The opening set started under Tappara’s control. In the middle of the set, Tappara’s players tried to shoot the puck past the Pelicans’ goalie Patrik Bartos too and Pelicans defenders. Little Black’s position caused confusion.

The situation was reviewed on video. Jury’s decision: no goal.

– For the Pelicans, it’s good that there was no goal. A good indication of Tappara’s strong forward play, Topi Nättinen said.

However, the Pelicans struck at the end of the first period. In the last minute of the set, defender Toni Utunen played nicely together with Iikka Kangasniemi and lifted the puck from the front corner with his knuckle past Christian Heljangon. Pelicans took the lead for the first time in the final match series with Utunen’s dressing room goal.

According to Nättinen, the goal showed that Tappara’s Heljankok can also be passed.

– It’s hard to fight back knuckles. You can’t tell from the position of the stage. Classic instruction, close up.

Kangasniemi’s preliminary work was praised by Nättine.

– Iikka is the kind of player who can create empty situations, doesn’t need a lot of space, is a small player. If he escapes, he will have to be broken. Gets a lot of ice and creates space for other players.

Tappara took the shots of the opening set 14–7.

Tappara froze and collapsed

In the second set, the Pelicans continued where they left off in the first.

The Pelicans Lukas Jasek lifted the puck into the goal, but Tappara’s players had previously knocked it out of place. The situation was reviewed on video, but the goal was disallowed.

Pelicans’ young men took on a role as the team doubled their lead in 33:08 Konsta Hirvonen with the first playoff goal Aatu Jämsenin and Toni Utunen for preliminary work.

– A good, balanced performance from the Pelicans. It has kept Tappara in few places, played maturely and scored a couple of great goals. Nättinen said.

Tappara fell to three ices in the second set.

– The Pelicans messed up in the first game. Definitely (head coach) Tommi Niemelä has said that we annoy Tapparaa by staying on the field and hitting goals. Today it has been successful. Tappara must be confused as to how this happened, Nättinen said.

Pelicans shot 20 times in the second period, Tappara 12.

Tappara started the third period wildly. The pressure paid off in 47.22, when Christian Tanus passed from behind the goal and Brother Matti Savinainen smashed the puck from the front post into the goal.

Tommi Niemelä took a timeout in the middle of the set and tried to calm the team down.

– Pelicans must have an offensive game, otherwise Tappara will slide past this, Nättinen said.

Tappara ran the game, but the Pelicans prevented the longest attacks. Patrik Bartosak made important saves in the goal of Pelicans. Kangasniemi scored a decisive 3–1 hit in the third period, when Tappara frantically searched for an equaliser. Lukas Jasek was able to put the puck into the void at the end. The game ended here at the latest.