HIFK-Saipa 1-2 16.01.1997

4th loss in a row

Winning goal allowed 13 seconds ahead of end of regulation time !

Scoring looks almost impossible right now. Opportunities were created and missed. HIFK twice had a 2 man advantage for more than a minute - no goal. On the whole HIFK played with a man advantage for more than a period without beeing able to score.

The problem seems pretty obvious, but no coach - Eaves seems paralyzed. He used the same lines on and on without any results, he even topped the team in most of the third, icing only two lines most of the time. The line Bissett-Kuhta-Molin line and especially Molin were very good, but did not get any ice-time compared to the top two lines. The defensive pairing of Lehtonen- Ahola does not work offensively and is doubtful on defense.

We need results so on Sunday I think the line: Kortelainen-O.Jokinen-Laukkanen should be re-united. Bench Lehtonen and let young Heiskanen skate alongside the nr 1 defender Juri Kutznetsov. Other lines could be: Bissett-Eriksson-Molin, Hurme-Wahlberg-Ruutu, Laaksonen-Sihvonen-V.Jokinen.

Stars of the game:

*** none

** Molin

* none