Weekly Finnish Hockey round-up by Aatami Mäkinen.
KHL
Jokerit had an unusual week, losing away to Amur 3-2 but surprisingly beating the big-spenders from Saint-Petersburg, SKA. Not many teams will come away from the Northern Russian City with maximum points, let alone coming from behind to do so. But Jokerit did just that, taking a 5-3 victory with them back to Helsinki.
Jokerit are hanging on to their play-off spot by a slender margin. With eleven games still to play, the Finnish side are tied for seventh place with Vityaz on 78 points. Sochi are closing fast though and are just a point back in Ninth.
SM liiga
Pelicans – Had an unusual week to say the least. They were well beaten in Jyvaskyla as JYP put four goals past them. Jani Tuppurainen, Juha-Pekka Hytonen, Janne Tavi and Joonas Nattinen all scoring for the home side. They then lost at home the following day after failing to recover from going three goals down to Assat. The Pori-based side marched into a commanding lead after Charles Bertrand, Tommi Paakkolanvaara and Jarno Karki all netted. However with nine minutes to go, Pelcians started something of a comeback with Antti Tyrvainen reducing the deficit and then Mikko Kousa grabbing a second with 35 second left. But the Lahti-based side were unable to find a third to complete the comeback.
So coming off the back of those two results nobody would have imagined Pelicans would put eight goals passed Helsinki based-side HIFK. The side from Lahti raced into a four goal lead by the end of the first period thanks to markers from Henri Heino, Antti Erkinjuntti, Stefan Lassen and Vili Sopanen. HIFK did pull one goal back at 22:28 thanks to Roope Hintz, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly forgotten when Iikka Kangasniemi scored a few minutes later to restore Pelicans’ four goal lead. Vili Sopanen grabbed his second of the night just after the mid-way point of the game to make it 6-1 before Jasse Ikonen pulled another one back for the visitors. Sopanen went on to complete his hat-trick early into the third period, while Erkinjuntti grabbed his second. Mikael Johansson, netted another consolation for HIFK with just over three minutes left to make the final score 8-3.
That leaves the Lahti-based side in seventh position on 66 points, two behind JYP in sixth but four ahead of eight placed HIFK.
Lukko – are still propping up the table put recorded an important win over the side just above them, SaiPa.
Aleksi Saarela, Jesse Virtanen and Sami Lahteenmaki all scored as Lukko raced into an early 3-0 lead. However, two goals in 36 seconds from Ville Koho and Elmeri Kaksonen gave the Rauma based side something to think about. Thankfully, Lukko were able to hold on for what was a much needed victory that dragged their opponents back into the fight to avoid bottom place.
SaiPa are now just two points above the Raumo-based side following that result, but the team next up on the list, KooKoo, comfortably saw of Lukko’s challenge to maintain a seven point gap in thirteenth.
Toni Koivisto had given Lukko the lead at 36:50 in a game they had to win in Kouvola, however that goal seemed to drive KooKoo on as they hit four unanswered goals in the final period to give themselves an important win of their own. Terry Boradhurst and Anrei Hakulinen both scored twice to help KooKoo to the win.
SaiPa - The Lappeenranta-based side have been dragged back into a scrap at the bottom of the table in recent weeks and their two defeats last week, have done them no favours at all. After losing the vital encounter against Lukko, they lost heaving in Pori to further compound their misery. Assat had a commanding lead by the end of the first period after Ville Korhonen, Simon Suoranta and Jarno Karki all scored for the home side. Santeri Koponen grabbed one back for the visitors at 23:58 but a brace of goals from Charles Bertrand made sure the game was safe for Assat. That leaves SaiPa on 47 points, and perilously close to being overtaken by Lukko now, who are just two points behind them.
JYP - were happy with their results last week. After a comfortable home win over Pelicans they followed it up with another success in Mikkeli. Sami Niku and Antti Suomela scored for the Jyvaskyla-based side in their game against Jukurit. Which takes their points tally for the season to 68, and now find themselves tied with Assat for fourth place in the standings. Suomela has been quietly climbing the scoring charts too, and now sits fourth with 33 points [19+14].
Tappara – maintained their seven point lead at the top after once again beating their closest rivals and taking another step towards lifting the league championship.
The leaders stormed to a comfortable victory over HPK with goals from Aleksi Elorinne, Juuso Pulli, Veli-Matti Savinainen and Henrik Haapala, last Wednesday. Then faced their title-challengers two nights later.
Alexander Bonsaksen gave Tappara the lead mid-way through the game but Joonas Lyytinen and Janne Keranen scored for KalPa to turn the game around. However, just over a minute later Jani Lajunen levelled the scores and took the game into overtime. The contest was eventually settled when Charles Linglet hit the only successful shot in a shoot-out to give Tappara the win.
Having celebrated an important win they followed that up with a disappointing loss to the team in third place.
Tomi Kallio and Eric Perrin had given Turku-based, TPS a 2-0 lead with just over five minutes to go, but when Henrik Haapala halved the deficit at 57:48, it looked like it could be another one of Tappara’s famous comebacks were about to happen. However, with the Tampere-side pushing to tie the game they left themselves exposed at the back and with 56 seconds left in the game Iikka Pikkarainen slotted home into an empty net to ice the game.
KalPa – KalPa responded from their shoot out defeat at home to Tappara by coming from behind to beat Karpat in Oulu. Janne Keranen had given the Kuopio-based side the elad at 25:53 of the game but golas from Jesse Saarinen and Sami Anttila, 44 seconds apart, seemingly turned the game in the hosts favour. KalPa stepped it up in the third period though when Tommi Jokinen levelled at 41:05. Janne Keranen, then scored his second f the game with less than five minutes to go to keep KalPa’s diminishing title aspirations alive.
TPS - remain in third place for now, but following another successful week, have closed in on second placed KalPa, and find themselves just a point back.
TPS recorded a massive 5-1 win over struggling KooKoo on Thursday. Henrik Tallinder, Topi Taavitsainen, Iikka Pikkarainen, Erik Thorell and Iikka Heikkinen all scored for the Turku-based side, while Eero Savilahti scored a consolation for KooKoo with 26 seconds left. They then followed that up by claiming the spoils in a tough game with leaders Tappara on Saturday. Given the way the results have gone in recent weeks, it looks increasingly likely that TPS could well prove to be Tappara’s main rivals for the title.
HIFK - lost at home to Sport Vaasa on Wednesday after Aleksi Ainali and Ville Viitaluoma each scored mid-way through the game. Miro Heiskanen did pull one back early in the third period but Otto Honkaheimo made the game safe with 68 seconds left.
KooKoo - took an early lead through Juha-Pekka Haataja on Wednesday, but could do nothing about Jukurit hitting back with three unanswered goals to take the points with them back to Mikkeli. Olli Sipilainen, Topi Nattinen and Joonas Kalliola all finding the net.
HPK - Recorded two 3-2 victories last week, in vary circumstances. They came from behind twice at home to Jukurit on Thursday to win 3-2. Miika Roine gave Jukurit the lead, but Niclas Almari tied the game just 42 seconds later. Olli Sipilainen then restored the Mikkeli-based side’s lead but goals in the final period from Niko Kapanen and Joonas Lehtivuori kept the points in Hameenlinna.
While against Sport, HPK threw away a two goal lead, and had to rely on a shoot-out to claim the victory. Miro Ruokonen and Juho Keranen scored early in the game before Matti Lamberg and Ville Viitaluoma tied things up. Oula Palve hit the only goal in the shoot-out to settle the game.
Ilves - It was a tough week for Ilves after they lost both of their games. Karpat eventually saw them off in Tampere on Thursday when Miska Humaloja hit the winner at 51:27. Mika Pyorala had given the Oulu based side the lead during the first period but Ilves tied the game through Tapio Laakso. Ilves then threw away a two goal lead in Pori as they lost to Assat 4-2. Markku Flinck and Tapio Laakso had found the net for the Tampere-based side but four goals in just 5:21 towards the end of game saw them go home with nothing. Simon Suoranta, Jyri Marttinen, Niko Ojamaki and Jarno Karki all scored for Assat.
Wednesday, January 18
HIFK v Sport 1-3
JYP v Pelicans 4-0
KooKoo v Jukurit 1-3
Tappara v HPK 4-0
Assat v Ilves 4-2
Thursday, January 19
HPK v Jukurit 3-2
Ilves v Karpat 1-2
Pelicans v Assat 2-3
TPS v KooKoo 5-1
Friday, January 20
KalPa v Tappara 2-3
Lukko v Saipa 3-2
Saturday, January 21
Jukurit v JYP 0-2
KooKoo v Lukko 4-1
Karpat v KalPa 2-3
Pelicans v HIFK 8-3
Sport v HPK 2-3
Tappara v TPS 1-3
Assat v SaiPa 5-1]
Mestis
SaPKo’s lead at the top of the table was cut last week after splitting their two games. The Savonlinna team from the East of the country were shocked on home ice last Wednesday by Hokki, losing 2-1. They were able to get back to winning ways on Friday though, when they visited K-Vantaa and came away from the Helsinki region with an important 4-1 win. SaPKo still hold a seven point lead but after TUTO won both their games last week, the pressure was firmly put back on. Like SaPKo, the Turku-based side put four goals past K-Vantaa and then followed that up at home to KeuPa HT with a 4-1 success. TUTO are far from out of the title race and given the fact they have a game in hand on the leaders, we could yet have an exciting finish to the season.
As mention before KeuPa HT lost heavily in Turku, but their misery didn’t end there. The side from Keuruu also conceded four goals in their home game with struggling Espoo United. The did manage one win, a single goal success over RoKi in the North Pole town of Rovaniemi, which keeps them well-placed in fifth.
Jokipojat, who are currently third in the standings, had a mixed week of result too. They beat JYP Akatemia 3-1 at home on Wednesday but lost 2-1 to LeKi at the same venue, two nights later. That means the team from Joensuu are now eight points back of TUTO in second, having played a game more, and a full fifteen behind leaders SaPKo.
Peliitat, the farm team for Pelicans Lahti, were in action three times last week. They got the better of IPK in a seven goal thriller at home, but followed that up with two disappointing road results. Losing 5-0 against RoKi and 3-1 to Hokki. The Heinola-based side are now tenth in the league, with one of their victors, Hokki, closing in fast, just a point behind them.
Elsewhere there were wins for IPK over LeKi and Hermes against JYP Akatemia. Hermes then went and lost 5-2 at Espoo, who capped a fine week by moving up the standings to now sit in sixth place. The team who had spent much of this season re-adjusting to life outside the SM-liiga, finally seem to have hit their stride and have rocketed up the table these past few weeks.
Wednesday, January 18
Peliitat v IPK 4-3
Jokipojat v JYP Akatemia 3-1
SaPKo v Hokki 1-2
RoKi v KeuPa HT 0-1
TUTO v K-Vantaa 4-0
Friday, January 20
KeuPa HT v Espoo United 1-4
Hermes v JYP Akatemia 3-2
Jokipojat v LeKi 1-2
K-Vantaa v SaPKo 1-4
RoKi v Peliitat 5-0
Saturday, January 21
TUTO v KeuPa HT 4-1
Espoo United v Hermes 5-2
Hokki v Peliitat 3-1
IPK v LeKi 4-1
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