Kiekko-Espoo knocked out Tappara – the winning streak continued

6 126 spectators witnessed when Kiekko-Espoo won 5–3 and extended their winning streak to four matches. The large number of people was also visible in the atmosphere of the hall, as the sound levels were infernal at best.

The biggest commotion in the hall was caused by a situation that happened in the middle of the third set, when Tapparan Otto Rauhala got the puck violently in his face. On the way to the locker room, the attacker raised his hand to the audience to indicate that he was fine, and the audience gave Rauhala a strong round of applause.

Poleaxe took the lead already in 1:30, when Christian Tanus cleaned up Arttu Kärjen from the shot into the net of the dropped puck.

Kiekko-Espoo’s equalizer came with real luck. Janne Hämäläinen The puck shot along the ice bounced off the goalkeeper Paavo Kohonen Tappara’s defender from the save Joni Tuulola to the backboard and bounce into the goal.

The victory for Espoo was decided by their goals in the third period Heikki Liedes, Ville Lajunen and Matti Järvinen. Apart from Tanus, they were responsible for Tappara’s goals Julius Mattila and Nick Halloran.

The most confusing hit of the match was Kiekko-Espoo’s 5-2 lead scored by Järvise just over two minutes before the end. Tappara chased the narrowness without a goalkeeper, and Mattila’s stray pass in the attacking area eventually slid into his own goal.

Since Järvinen was the last home team player to touch the puck, he got the goal.

The teams played a fairly solid match, and the reigning champion Tappara brought a tough game to Espoo’s Friday night. Especially in the second set, Tappara dominated in some places, creating long spins. However, the result was exhausted, as Kiekko-Espoo’s first goalkeeper took the field Petteri Rimpinen stopped the pucks.

Kiekko-Espoo’s season continues on Saturday as KooKoo’s guest in Kouvola. Tappara, on the other hand, plays at home against Lukko.