With Monday’s win, Tappara rose to third in the standings, tied with the second autumn sensational team SaiPa.
In Monday’s only ice hockey league match, Tappara defeated Vaasa Sport 6–2 in the Tampere arena.
For playing his first league match Dani from Mikkos became the home team’s 19th scorer this season. Mikkonen, 19, scored the winning goal in the 29th minute of the match, 3–2.
Last February, Mikkonen played for the first time in the U20 national team in the Swiss tournament.
The center of Tappara’s second chain Oiva Keskinen already scored two goals in the opening set. He is the world champion Esa Keskinen nephew.
Of the home team’s 12 attackers, only the second winger of the foursome remained without power points Juuso Nykänen.
Tappara’s lineup lacked two attackers among the top five point scorers, ie Julius Mattila and Petteri Puhakka. In addition, absentees John Quenneville has scored one goal in his two matches.
The match was the first of four for both teams this week. The game days for the following matches are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Sport’s lineup still lacked defenders Take Rantakari and Miro Karjalainen. Their last match in the team so far is the away match against KalPa played on November 13 and ending in a 3–7 loss.
Series table (teletext) here