Tampere Ilves will host Lahti Pelicans today, Saturday, in the fourth meeting of the semi-final series of the Finnish Hockey Championship. Especially for Ilves, the home match is important, as the Pelicans lead the series with a 2–1 win.
Pertti Lappalainen,
Simo Arkko
11:08•Updated 11:13
The fourth semi-final game between Ilves and Pelicans can be exciting live via Puhe’s Jääkeikökierros from 4:45 p.m.
Lahti Pelicans are looking for their second away win today in the SM league semi-final series against Tampere Ilves. Ilves, who finished second in the regular season, has lost the previous two matches of the series, the latter of which was on Thursday in Tampere.
– I don’t remember, because I’ve been surprised with my pants down, that I’m as wrong as I can be, Urheilu’s ice hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen download from the strong Pelicans.
In both losing games, Ilves shot more than Pelicans, but the tenacious team from Lahti rose from a losing position to winning in both games.
– Big hats off to the coaching teams and all the field players. There’s a twinkle in the corner of the eye. They make artistic solutions within the five-man discipline, Lehkonen describes the Pelicans.
He finds clear game reasons for Lahti’s victories.
– With their puck game and their own good defensive play, they have gotten Ilves into trouble. The five-on-five game went 3–0 to the Pelicans in the previous match.
The download is shown in the series
The defender from Lahti has taken the most attention in the series Ben Blood. He has twice been involved in SM league disciplinary proceedings after tackling the Ilves captain Eemeli Finland. The American defender was not suspended for either situation.
There have been sparks in the series anyway. Ilves head coach at the press conference of the previous match Antti Pennanen made eye-catching comments about his team’s values.
– I am behind our team’s values. I can appreciate how the players play on the ice, struggle and want to stay upright until the end, he added.
The comment was interpreted in many places as a jab at the Pelicans. Pennanen’s words cannot be directly covered by the ice-box statistics, as the Ilves have been whistled for eight two-minute penalties in the series, and the Pelicans have had nine.
About Thursday’s match, Lehkonen highlights a situation that could have turned the match for Ilves. However, this did not happen.
– Ilves got one top goal purely by filming and fishing. I thought the game would end there, but the Pelicans weren’t in the mood, Lehkonen shakes.
The expert sees a lot of good in Ilves’ defensive play. He likes the Tampere way of defending.
– Really great and active in three areas of the field. The tip weighs and space and time are taken away from the whole five, Lehkonen analyses.
On the other hand, Ilves’ puck playing worries the experienced puck man. According to Lehkonen, attacking is formulaic.
– There is no risk-taking ability whatsoever. If it doesn’t improve, Ilves will be in trouble on Saturday as well.
After Thursday’s match, Pennanen was satisfied with Ilves’ attacking and the number of goal chances created. He praised the Pelicans goaltender Patrick Bartosaki. In the defensive game, he hoped for petrification, because according to the coach, Ilves conceded goals too cheaply.
– Certain defense matters need to be sharpened in the future, Pennanen summed up.
The expert believes the Pelicans can still improve
Lehkonen believes that the Pelicans are still improving their game. He senses a positive and happy atmosphere from the team.
– They have smelled blood and are enjoying the situation. They throw “femmes” in the exchange shed, the bench lives brilliantly. They even joke a little sometimes, Lehkonen describes.
Pelicans head coach Tommi Niemelää is incensed throughout the season. In advance speculations, the team from Lahti was not included in the medal games, and the team is one of the biggest surprises of the season. Lehkonen praises the entire Pelicans coaching staff.
– I like the Pelicans bench coaching. They play hot players all the time. There is no NuoriSuomi activity, he insists.
The surprise team is two wins away from a place in the finals. Lehkonen finds a match for the team from Lahti at the beginning of the last decade.
– The last time such a big deal was made was in 2010, and that’s it Kai Suikkanen TPS They surprised Rauma Luko in the first playoff round and went all the way.