Ice hockey | Tappara's criticized number one star stole the show in Lahti – a cold shower for the Pelicans

Lahti

Pelicans-Tappara 3–4 je. (2–0, 0–0, 1–3, 0–1), wins 1–3

The speeches from the final series to a new flame already in the previous match, they were not caught by the wind.

Friday night's fourth final at the Lahti Ice Hall between Pelicans and Tappara was an incredible thriller that did not leave anyone cold.

For a long time it seemed that the Pelicans were rolling to a convincing second consecutive victory, but Tappara did a trick. Yet again. Tappara, who was completely in the middle of the first two sets, came up behind two goals in the final set, first alongside and then past.

Tappara's draft animal in the chase had risen from the shadows to the spotlight Anton Levtchiwho scored a stylish hat-trick in the final set.

It still wasn't enough. The Pelicans took the match to overtime when Aleks Haatanen hit a 3-3 tie just 40 seconds before the buzzer.

The referee checked the hit on video before accepting the goal. Tappara star guard Christian Heljanko seemed to fall just before the goal Pelicans by Lars Bryggman to bat. In the Tappara camp, the verdict aroused incredulous reactions.

In the follow-up, he became the hero in the end Nick Baptistewho scored the winning goal in 60:48.

The final series will be moved to Tampere on Sunday. Tappara has the opportunity to secure a third consecutive Finnish championship in front of their home crowd when the puck drops on the ice of the Nokia Arena at 5 p.m.

Pelicans burst out of the gates with ferocious intensity. Tappara was in trouble when the Pelicans put the black turquoise on their press.

The sold-out hall exploded into screams for the first time with Haatanen's 1-0 goal after only 49 seconds.

Add more steam to the hot bay sauna Nathan Schnarr hitting the puck behind Heljango for the second time 30 seconds later. However, Tappara's coaching challenged the goal ruling, and the goal was disallowed as goalkeeper obstruction.

This spring, Tappara has never been in a similar grind right from the start of the match. Stupid smelling salt had circulated on the home team's bench and the leg was fresh.

The Pelicans were already strong at the start of their first home game of the finals, but the beginning of Friday night was completely off the hinges. The complete whirlwind of the Lahti people lasted just under 10 minutes before Tappara could even helpfully join the pace of the final.

Tappara had a chance to strike at the end of the opening set, when Joni Tuulola got to try from the top lot directly from the pass, but it was hot Niklas Kokko stretched to a soaring foot block.

After a while, there was a fire at the other end. Defender Toni Utunen picked up the slack and shot a nice shot to give the Pelicans a 2–0 lead. The goal was the second of the finals for the 24-year-old credit defender on Saturday.

The two of you A goal lead is never a comfortable situation against Tappara. Not this time either, although the home team kept Tappara scoreless until the beginning of the final set.

Among the players in the top role, the golden helmet Levtchi got the taps open at the time of the count, when he hit Tappara's 1-2 reduction in 44.19. With his hit, Levtchi broke a six-game scoreless streak.

Pelicans' four-cylinder Dynamo convincingly dominated two sets, but the third set was completely dominated by Tappara. The away team took control with their puck control and the Pelicans went into survival mode.

After that it was go. Pelicans fooled the offensive end to the ice and Tappara's number one superiority inoculated without mercy. Levtchi raced straight Kristian Tanunsen genius pass for a handsome 2–2 tie in 50:35.

Levtchi, who has received a lot of criticism for his ineffectiveness, crowned his super night by nailing a hat trick just over four minutes before the end of the actual game time.