Reigning champions Tappara are one victory away from a new gold. The team took a solid victory over the Pelicans in Lahtis. Tappara now leads 3–1 in matches and can decide the gold on Thursday in Tampere.
Tappara did what was required in the fourth final game of the Men’s Ice Hockey League.
The reigning champions from Tampere won over the Pelicans in Lahtis with 3–1. Tappara now leads 3-1 in games and can decide a new league title in the home hall on Thursday.
The Pelicans kept pace in terms of play in the match, but Tappara took advantage of their forward positions and at the same time kept close behind.
Tappara’s third goal underlined this. First, Lars Bryggman in the Pelicans was free in front of the goal played by Iikka Kangasniemi, but missed. Three Tappara passes later, the puck was in the Pelicans goal as Valtteri Merelä finished from close range. The goal was Merelä’s eighth in this year’s playoffs.
When the Pelicans had to chase an equalizer in the power play, it was Tappara who came closest to scoring when Ben Thomas managed to counter. Soon the Pelicans got the chance in the power play again – but Christian Heljanko in the Tappara goal was unmoved.
– It was a very tough match, but the goals determine how the game turns out. We improved from the last game (lost 1-4), where we played official hockey. Now everyone raised their level. In order to scrape another victory, we have to clean up the losses, Christian Heljanko told CMore after the match.
In the closing minutes, the Pelicans chased the equalizer without a goaltender and got paid once when Tyler Kelleher got paid.
It was the Pelicans’ first goal in two final games at home in Lahti
Lehterä still goalless in the finals
The match was five minutes old when the goal shooting began.
Philip Granath in Tappara dribbled around in the offensive zone and gave the puck to Joni Tuulola at the blue line. Tuulola made a cut-through pass to the goal, and Ben Thomas was able to score his first career playoff goal.
– We entered the match well, but after the goal we started to run under the pressure and made it difficult for us, defender Joni Tuulola told CMore during the break.
In the second period, Tappara had the best positions and the only goal.
The star Jori Lehterä came through alone, but shot the post. Lehterä is still goalless in the final series.
Later, Lehterä played until Veli-Matti Savinainen, who slogged in two and powerplay without hindrance. Savinainen has stood for three goals and two goal-scoring passes so far in the finalserien.
The second period offered yet another Tappara goal, which was disallowed after video review. The game was called off when the puck slid into the goal and hope was still alive for the Pelicans.
