Poor performance on all levels. HIFK were not prepared for the
predictable early rush by K-Espoo and conceded two easy goals early (2-3 min.)in the first period.
HIFK left an shaky impression and goalie Lundell was largely to blame for the 3rd & 4th goals. He was then replaced by Lindfors who also was below his normal level. Generally the errors occured in defense and especially newly nominated national team players Karalahti and Timonen were off their peak.
Ryan Savoia´s HIFK career lasted only for less than two shifts; then his ankle gave up on him again. Halkidis was really poor and as the Matinkylä "Garden" is the smallest rink in the league his abilities should have been suitable for yesterday´s settings, but quite the opposite he was lousy and destroyed HIFK´s last changes taking a double-minor for roughing with 4.40 left on the clock.
It appears there´s been too many changes on the roster and in the line-up lately. Yesterday the coaches were laborating again and the results were not good.
The only players remaining on their normal-level were the fourth line Laaksonen-Kuhta-Heiskanen and young Kalto. In defense Linna & Puolanne were invisible enough to be nominated too.
The fight in the end was un-necessary and HIFK should have been able to chill out despite the provocations from the K-Espoo "VIP"-seats.
Ref Haajanen was totally useless and should have stopped the outright dangerous tackles in the third period as well as he should have emtied the K-Espoo crowd throwing garbage at the HIFK bench.
Stars:
#1 none
#2 none
#3 Kalto