This EHL quarterfinal home and home series game 1 had attracted 11 500 spectators to the Arena. The setup was clear HIFK was 0-4-0 vs. Jokerit, in the League, ahead of this bout, but was that a disadvantage ?
On paper it was an entirely different lineup HIFK iced tonight compared with that of nine days ago. In the lineup were all the top players except for Olli Ahonen still assigned to the World Juniors Team. Yes, even Luciano Borsato returned after an agonising shoulder problem that kept him out for almost three months.
The opening moments were very tough for HIFK, who looked disoriented and had to concentrate on chasing the puck and opponent. This eventually led to a goal being conceded on a schoolbook like play ending in a slapper in the gloveside upper corner by Janecky.
After the intermission HIFK got a better grip on the situation and dominated most of the action. Neither team had many scoring chances, but eventually the equaliser materialized, in the middle of a line shift, #33 Markku Hurme stole the puck deep in the Jokerit corner and fed in to the goulmouth were #37 Santeri Heiskanen deflected it in for his 1st goal of the season.
Jokerit went ahead again and the match generally was figure skating rather than hockey. Very little checking and intensity bad passing and limited variety.
Until late in the third everything seemed set for an other upset, but a 10 second span changed it all. First a loose shot from the blue was deflected in five hole by, Heiskanen, again and then seconds later Jokerit goalie Ketterer fumbled in a loose high backhander, by Lydma, all the way from the red line !
The remaining time HIFK defended succesfully their lead to clinch its win over the archrivals this season. The outcome of the EHL Quarterfinal is decided on aggregate points from the two games which means the outcome would, in the case of a win by Jokerit, be decided by an overtime on the 12th.
The positive news with Nikko and Borsato back in the lineup were dampened by Mika Kortelainen´s kneee injury that could keep him out for two months. Joe Frederick was +/- -2 an Trevor Doyle saw only limited ice time this time. Get rid of them both is my opinion !
The League commences on Thursday vs. Blues who have only one win in their ten last games. Karalahti and Doyle will still be suspended.
Kortelainen-Nieminen-Tuomainen
Hurme-Borsato-Caloun
Mäkiaho-Sihvonen-Frederick
Laaksonen-Kalto-Heiskanen
Lydman-Rafalski
Nikko-Karalahti
Kultanen-Siren
Rajala
Stars:
*** Heiskanen
** Lundell
* Lydman