“We noticed that the guy couldn’t really stand the physicality” – the championship was interrupted on Tuesday

Women’s League third final HIFK–K-Espoo on Tuesday 21.3. at 6 p.m. The match will be watched on Puhe’s Ice Hockey Tour.

HIFK crushed Kiekko-Espo 9–2 at home on Saturday. On Sunday, Kiekko-Espoo defended more efficiently in their home rink, but despite this, IFK left the rink as winners with 4–0 goals.

Kiekko-Espo had several scoring opportunities in the match, but either the IFK keeper Kia Lahtinen was in the way of the puck or the finish from Espoo was lame.

– It’s rough when you get that momentum and don’t use it. Then a guy comes from the next place and hits the locker, Kiekko-Espoo’s head coach Sami Haapanen regretted.

– I am proud of the work that the team did after yesterday and washed their face in a certain way. There were places, but they could not be utilized.

IFK chased four points in the first match Sanni Vanhanen was able to score the opening goal of the match in 13:22, but the second goal had to wait until the second period.

Kiekko-Espoo’s good phase was cut short when Nenna Mehtonen a shot from near the blue line sank into the goal during a delayed penalty in 36:32.

Just a minute later, HIFK punished Espoo’s mistake again. Emilia Vesa already moved the visitors to within three goals when Emmi Rakkolainen sat in the ice hall.

Kiekko-Espoo’s pursuit of the third set got a bad setback in the second minute, when Nea Katajamäki received a two minute penalty. HIFK’s superiority was effective again, because Athena Locatelli got to this by Clara Rozier after a pass from the blue line Final scores 4–0, after only three minutes of the game had passed.

IFK had chances for a fifth goal, when the Espoo team played without a goalkeeper, but otherwise so greedy for goals Michaela Pejzlovan the shot hit the side iron.

The IFK striker who scored four points on Saturday Julia Liikala remained without points on Sunday, but according to him, the team’s faith did not waver, even though Kiekko-Espoo was a degree tougher this time.

– We trust so strongly in our way of playing and that if we just follow it, at some point the game will start to turn for us sooner or later, Liikala said.

Forward of Kiekko-Espoo Julia Schalin admitted after the match that he was a bit speechless. The team was better involved than on Saturday, but the performance spots remained unused. The team consciously played harder physically.

– We noticed that the guy couldn’t stand the physicality even in Pirkkola, so we decided to continue where we left off yesterday, Schalin said and assured that the team has not given up yet.

Last year, Kiekko-Espoo led by winning the match 2–0, but IFK leveled the situation at 2–2. The people from Espoo won the fifth final, but they know that anything is possible.

– Now, one by one, let’s take those victories. We don’t give anything to a guy for free, Schalin assured.

The IFK camp naturally disagrees on the matter. Liikala assured that he will use the goals he saved on Sunday in Tuesday’s third final, and even Sanni Vanhanen, who scored the opening goal, is not going to let the people of Espoo celebrate.

– Yes, the finals will be canceled on Tuesday, he assured.

The third match will be played at the Helsinki Ice Hall. According to Sami Haapanen, “many people who came from the countryside have melted” in the bright lights of Helsinki. He hopes that the people from Espoo will play the best game of the series at that time.

– We talk about the culture of winning, but now we just have to show character. The guy operates with top quality material and gets the best out of the best players. Now is our time to find the same. Our best players are not playing the best hockey yet, Haapanen said.

Women’s League third final HIFK–K-Espoo on Tuesday 21.3. at 6 p.m. The match will be watched on Puhe’s Ice Hockey Tour.