Pelicans put in a much better performance on Saturday night to defeat SaiPa in Lappeenrannan for the third time this season.
But they had to do it the hard way, falling behind just 3:11 into the contest. Elmeri Kaksonen directed a Lauri Taipalus shot past the helpless Joona Voutilainen.
The Pelicans then played the better hockey as they looked to level the game but couldn't find a way past the SaiPa goalie, Jussi Markkanen, and so headed into the first intermission down 1-0.
The second period was littered with a series of penalties called against the Pelicans. At 24:47 defensive pair Ben Blood and Pasi Puistola were both called for tripping leaving Lahti on a 5-on-3 penalty kill. Voutilainen, however, was outstanding in the goal and stopped all SaiPa's efforts during the two minutes.
Then at 33:07 Taavi Vartiainen was called for tripping but also received a 10 minute unsportsmanlike conduct call.
That didn't affect the Pelicans though, as less than three minutes into that penalty the leveled the score. Jussi Markkanen was able to keep out Hannes Björnisen intial effort, but couldn't stop Miska Siikonen's shot.
The Pelicans began the third period on the penalty kill once again when Marko Poyhonen was called for holding but SaiPa was unable to put their power play to use.
At 45:31 Aleksi Rekonen steered home a shot to the far post from Hannes Björninen to give Pelicans the lead.
SaiPa applied more pressure for the final two and a half minutes but couldn't beat the goalie. Voutilainen's 29 saves were vital as the Pelicans claimed three valuable points.
Team Line Up
Pelicans made a couple of line-up changes ahead of the clash. Roope Elimäki was moved up to center the top line in place of Justin Hodgman.
Arttu Heikkinen was added to the fourth line. While, all three defensive pairings remained unchanged.
Jonah Voutilainen got his second league start in net and despite his young age put in a great performance.
74 Antti Erkinjuntti - 37 Roope Elimaki - 22 Juhani Tyrvainen
18 Aleksi Rekonen - 27 Miska Siikonen - 24 Hannes Bjorninen
81 Taavi Vartiainen - 84 Henri Heino - 38 Morten Poulsen
29 Arttu Heikkinen - 7 Ville-Matti Koponen - 25 Joonas Alanne
16 Justin Hodgman
10 Ben Blood - 12 Pasi Puistola
39 Marko Poyhonen - 8 Nico Manelius
51 Roni Rukajarvi - 6 Valtteri Parikka
30 Joona Voutilainen - 41 Janne Juvonen
Opposition View
72 Elmeri Kasonen - 71 Matti Jarvinen - 13 Joni Nikko
11 Tomi Leivo - 60 Tero Koskiranta - 78 Mikael Kuronen
12 Kim Stromberg - 68 Saku Salminen - 48 Joona Jaaskelainen
21 Valtteri Virkkunen - 80 Ville Vainikainen
56 Lauri Taipalus - 22 Brett Carson
77 William Makinen - 55 Lasse Lappalainen
49 Simon Backman - 88 Per Savilahti Nagander
44 Jere Sneck
27 Jussi Markkanen - 31 Juho Olkinuora
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