Despite the pretty close score this one was far from exciting. In reality HIFK mastered the soft Slovan players at half speed. Numerous erratic passes two ways made the attendance, just short of 5300, sigh in disbelief.
The question around the rink was: what´s happened during the break to the outstanding creative players as Rafalski (1+1, 4 PIM !), Caloun and Nieminen (0+1). Not to mention Karalahti who really wandered in the dark again. One gets the feeling that the lucky bounces are over for the year.
As against JYP last week, also today the almighty pp line again blew a two-man advantage on a lacklustre, inefficient and impatient attempt.
As in (almost) every game there were some bright spots. #22 Mika Kortelainen has had a solid autumn not as visible as maybe some years, but effective in points and definitively showing good ethics and playing for the team - not for himself. I wouldn´t go as far as two fellow spectators calling it his best season ever, but both Kortelainen and #33 Markku Hurme have showed that they´ve been able to adapt to the departure of, Olli Jokinen, their brilliant center last season. Hurme had trouble making the team early on (to my big surprise), but once he got a chance he´s been well worth his spot on the top line.
I´m giving credit to Jarkko Ruutu for keeping his calm a putting up a good effort despite the turmoil in the media that surrounds him currently.
The two checking lines have felt tired the last couple of games and no wonder as their workload has been heavy. Today #44 Marko Tuomainen played well controlling his nerves in avoiding any unnecessary PIM.
What decided the game tonight was (cliché´coming !) the individual skill level of the players, which was clearly, in our favour. Defensively we were "shaken, but not stirred" and Lundell again gave away a goal. The defence corps look uninspired at the moment Rafalski, Karalahti and Kultanen on cold streaks and Siren working his way back from injury which leaves us with Lydman solid defensively (that´s it however !), but nothing forward. #45 Scott Malone played regular shifts together with Siren (brought back memories of two years ago Ahola-Lehtonen, bless them!), but none against the man-advantage. Malone was not to blame for anything else than being outpositioned sometimes. Rajala played basically only 4-5 and From was scratched.
Slovan Bratislava played typical Slovak-hockey: speedy, individualistic but very uncreative and inefficient. Their roster included former NHLer Zdeno Ciger (Nashville traded for his rights recently so he might be playing there next year) and former Lukko and K-Espoo forward Lubomir Kolnik (1+0). Apart from these two a couple of players I noticed were Russian import D Gribko, young D Vishnevsky and centers Rataj and Kubak. Goalie Capek again was typically Slovakian, not the #1 player on the team i.e. As we know goalies have been the Achilles Heel of Slovakian National Teams in all recent tournaments.
Lines
Kortelainen-Nieminen-Tuomainen
Caloun-Hurme-J.Ruutu
Laaksonen-Sihvonen- Mäkiaho
Kalto-Ahonen-
Rafalski-Kultanen
Lydman-Karalahti
Malone-Siren
Rajala
Lundell
Scratches were: M.Ruutu (healthy), Heiskanen (healthy), Borsato (shoulder), Nikko (arm), Hagman (healthy), Väisänen(healthy)
Stars:
*** Mika Kortelainen
** Toni Mäkiaho
* Marko Tuomainen