SaiPa, coached by Raimo Helminen, has fallen into a small low period in the hockey league. As a result, Tappara rose to the top of the league.
20:57•Updated 21:18
SaiPa, which has been at the top of the series for a long time, suffered its fifth loss in the last seven games and lost the top spot in the even League. Jere Karjalainen (3+1), and Juuso Mäenpää (2+2) were KalPa’s greediest power players in a 9–2 home win over the miracle of the east.
– SaiPa is not used to winning as an organization. If you slip up even a little bit in your daily routine or forget something, it’s bad. You shouldn’t create a crisis yourself, but you should be aware of the pitfalls yourself, ‘s expert Top Nättinen resemble.
For KalPa, the three-point pot was only the first in December. The crushing defeat in front of the handsome crowd from Kuopio – 4,821 – clearly hurt From Raimo Helmi.
– There was only one team on the field. The coach gets to look in the mirror to see what kind of team he brings to the post-Christmas game. A bit unforgivable that such a show was brought here, SaiPa’s head coach mainly criticized himself.
Nättinen points out that now both the opponents and the opponent’s fans have taken SaiPa as an eye candy. Every team wants to beat them. SaiPa has not been in this position during its entire history.
– You have to remember. that at the start of the season, SaiPa’s championship was 14th place. It’s so easy to get lazy during the season and miss that one decisive reach, one tackle, one massage or meeting, and get behind the fact that, yes, we beat Tappara in the last round. Nobody, not even SaiPa, can afford this, insists the expert.
SaiPa can wash its face as soon as Saturday, when Kiekko-Espoo, who played the flute, arrives at the sold-out Kisapuisto today.
Tappara, who won its second consecutive goal and swept to the top spot in the series by a margin of one point, beat JYP with goals 3–2 in front of more than 11,201 spectators. The victory was already the third of the season for the reigning champion among Central Finns.
Tappara’s 17-year-old defender promise Jesper Kotajärvi completed the opening goal of his Liiga career, which was also the game-winning goal.
The other Tappara goal scorers were John Quenneville and Aapeli Räsänen. Defender of JYP Juuso Vainio scored his first goal in almost four years. He hit the last time in Växjö in the 2020-21 season.
Lukko and Jukurit on top
Ilves suffered their second loss in a row, when Rauman Lukko sealed their 5–3 victory with a strong first set. Tommi Niemelän the protectors have picked up just one three-point win in their last seven games.
– Definitely the worst game of the season from us, a very poor performance. There were a few scoring opportunities at the end, but Lukko was better in everything today, Niemelä said at the media conference.
Karson Kulman (1+2) and points 1+1 compiled by Patrick Khodorenko, Steven Jandric and Eric Gelinas were rehabilitated from the ranks of the winners.
– Lukko is a mystery team that can beat anyone and lose to anyone. Weird losses come to the people of Rauma in miraculous matches, points out Nättinen Tomi Lämsän fluctuating hedges.
Marko Tuomainen coached by Jukurit has found a wise stone in December, where the leader of the series has won five matches out of seven possible fights. The team from Mikkeli grabbed their third consecutive win from KooKoo with a 4–3 away win.
KooKoo took the shots of the match 65–32. Jukurie’s support and security blocked the puck 31 times Matthieu Herpin. Sakke Hämäläinen, Ludwig Persson, Peter Abbandonato and riveted the puck to the voids Alexander Ruuttu hit the Jukurei.
KooKoo’s golden helmet and Vice-Captain Radek Koblizek signed an extension today with KooKoo also for the 2025–2026 season.
Expert Nättinen reminded that consistency is a trump card in a long run in the hockey league, streaks are a separate issue.
– The position of the Jukurs is still quite difficult, because they gave such a big lead to the others with their slow early season moves. The Jukurs should play the last 25 matches of the regular season with the top clubs and a point average of 1.8–2 points per match to reach the playoffs. Of course, in order to get dry, i.e. instead of 14th, even less is enough, for example an average of 1.2–1.3 points, Nättinen enthused in the hockey round.
Series table