The spring of the ice hockey men’s SM league playoffs started with the opening matches of the first round. Kärpät and Aces are now one victory away from the quarter-finals.
22:42•Updated 22:43
Oulu’s Kärpät and Pori’s Ässät took their first bets on the quarter-final spots in the first playoff round of the men’s SM league. Kärpät beat KooKoo 4–2 and Ässät TPS 2–1.
Both have a chance to secure their place in the top eight as early as tomorrow, when the other matches are played in Kouvola and Turku.
Kärpät got off to a lightning start in their home arena: Two goals in the fourth minute of the game raised expectations for Oulu high, but KooKoo kiri Linus Andersson hitting a 2-2 tie early in the third.
Puheen’s Ice Hockey tour expert Top Nättinen stated that the game in Oulu was even as expected. The solution was seen a good two and a half minutes before the end of the match.
– There was a situation that froze KooKoo a bit, where the experienced Julius Junttila nailed the game to 3–2 and crowned the hat trick with an empty net. It was a very Kärppie-looking victory. A bit sneaky and surprisingly scored the winning goal three minutes before the end, Nättinen said.
The season has been miserable for Kärpi, the perennial winner of the SM league. The seventh place in the regular season and starting the playoffs from the first round has been a disappointment for both players and supporters. On Monday evening, the match was watched by just over 2,700 spectators in Raksila.
However, Nättinen says that he saw familiar signs from previous seasons in Kärppie’s performance.
– It was quite clinical, Kärpp seen in many springs in the 2010s. When you play for a win, you take the win. And let’s go Timo Jutilaa to quote, forward.
Aces won against the guests from Turku
In Pori, the first playoffs in five years were clearly more interesting than the people of Oulu. There were more than 5,100 spectators in the Isomäki hall.
Ässät took a 2–1 victory over TPS at the end of a smooth game. Aces Jesse Joensuu scored 1–0 in the 24th minute and for a long time it seemed that there would be no more goals. 40 seconds before the end Aces Roni Sevänen however, nailed the 2-0 readings to nothing and in the last seconds of the match, TPS Valtteri Pulli reduced to 2–1.
Recorded the assist for the Aces’ opening goal Aleksander Ruuttu said that there was a lot of emotion and events in the match, especially in the final moments.
– We played a good game, as well as many games at the end of the regular season. We talked about the result coming with the game and fortunately today it did. There was a great atmosphere in the hall and this was a wonderful experience.
According to Ruuttu, Ässie’s defensive play and goalkeeper Niklas Rubin 24 saves were the keys to the win.
– A lot of sacrifice and a lot of jumping in front of the puck. Rubin took important booths. Must continue in the same way. We can still improve, Ruuttu said.
The second matches of the first playoff round will be played tomorrow, Tuesday, in Turku and Kouvola at 18:30.
Tuesday 14.3. at 6:30 p.m KooKoo – Flies
TPS – Aces