Being a hockey-fan is becoming a full time job with the Blues playing their homegames in Helsinki.
HIFK has been an obstacle The Blues never have overcome in the Helsinki Rink. Not before today and not after today.
The mellow athmosphere at the Blues games surely is not firing up the Blues, thought by many to be, the most boring team in the SM-Liiga.
Today the Blues kept the game pretty close for two periods, but then destiny repeated itself and HIFK left the building with yet another two points in the bag. Up in to the stands it seemed obvious that the Blues not only lost in creativity and shaky goaltending, but they really got tired. Looks like the Blues players weren´t familiar with the old phrase. "No pain - no gain" their stamina really sucked. Too many times the one-one situations turned in the advantage of the Big Red Cats, tonight casually dressed in white.
Not even the gritty play so usual for these encounters was there tonight. There were some dangerous situations especially a couple of bording incidents could have turned into nasty injuries. I think a clear boarding should result in 5 min major and game misconduct - not only a 2 min minor.
The #1 line played very well today. Jan Caloun (2+1) was excelling after a less productive streak and obviously this helped his linemates Hurme and J.Ruutu to new levels. Other solid performances came from #44 Marko Tuomainen who never runs out of steam forechecking as also goes for #78 Kari Kalto. Rafalski was the heart and soul of all playmaking and deserves a mentioning for his accurate cross ice passes.
Bäckström played in his third in a row and again showed he´s really got what´s needed at this level. I like his calm and steady approach.
Lines
Kortelainen-Nieminen-Tuomainen
Caloun-Hurme-J.Ruutu
Kuhta-Sihvonen- Mäkiaho
Kalto-Ahonen-Laaksonen
Rafalski-Kultanen
Lydman-Karalahti
Rajala-Siren
From
Bäckström
Scratches were: M.Ruutu (healthy), Heiskanen (healthy), Borsato (shoulder), Nikko (arm), Hagman (healthy), Väisänen(healthy)
Stars:
*** Jan Caloun
** Markku Hurme
* Marko Tuomainen