Slow start
The game started quite badly as Matias Maccelli was checked hard towards the boards. Maccelli, who was Ilves’ leading scorer since Eemeli Suomi was not in the lineup, moved slowly towards dressing rooms. This meant that Ilves’ lines had to be reconstructed. Luckily, Maccelli returned after the first intermission.
Roby Järventie got the first real scoring opportunity of the game. Teemu Väyrynen got the puck from HPK defenseman and passed the puck to Järventie, who had just jumped to ice. Forward’s wrist shot barely missed the upper corner of HPK’s goal. Moments later, Ilves got their first powerplay opportunity but neither powerplay unit managed to score.
Ilves got another powerplay opportunity but it was HPK that capitalized their time on powerplay. At 16.46 Anssi Salmela watched from the penalty box as Valtteri Puustinen shot a one-timer past Eetu Mäkiniemi. In general, there were not too many scoring chances in the first period, although Ilves controlled the puck more. Mäkiniemi stopped six shots and HPK’s Eetu Laurikainen only four.
Ilves tied the game
Ilves got their third powerplay opportunity right at the beginning of the second period and, finally, the powerplay unit tied the game at 24.08. The puck bounced around and was loose in front of HPK’s goal and Antti Saarela poked the puck over the goal line. As a result, forward ended his long scoring drought.
Neither goalie had to work extra in the second since both marked five saves. Ilves’ offensive game was not at its best, but they were able to hold off HPK’s forwards, though. The game was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of hockey, which is nothing new between these two teams if you look at this season’s previous matches. Right before the second intermission, Saarela injured his hand after he collided with two HPK players.
No points for Ilves
HPK celebrated their second goal of the evening a bit too early. The goal was challenged by Ilves and shortly the call on the ice was reversed due to goalie interference. At the same time, Ilves was still struggling to find its offense as they did not manage to hold the puck too long in HPK’s zone.
At 53.37 HPK took the lead when Ossi Ikonen’s deflection went through Mäkiniemi’s pads. Just about a minute later, the home team extended its lead, making it 3-1. Juuso Ikonen and Petri Kontiola skated through Ilves’ defense and Mäkiniemi was not able to stretch his equipment in front of the puck. Suddenly, Ilves was two goals behind and something had to be done quickly.
Ilves did not get the chasing mode on and, in the end, HPK made it 4-1 with an empty netter. Ilves had problems with scoring throughout the game and, as we all know, it is very difficult to win matches if you manage to score only once.
