SaiPa beat Ässät 4–1 in the third meeting of the quarter-final series.
SaiPa celebrated in front of the sold-out Kisapuisto. Mikko Lieri / AOP
– Miraculously, we survived the first batch with dry feet.
I saw the SaiPa pilot Raimo Helminen said at the press conference.
– Aces took it when they came. We were quite apart, he said.
– Alivoima got a little lucky and got that goal.
Helminen gestured Eero Klintrupin to the 2–0 hit that resulted Miikka Salomäki during the five-minute period a little before the halfway point of the match.
– Somehow it gave a little energy.
SaiPa got hold not only of the result, but gradually also of the rink.
– The first half was really good for us, but then we scored cheap goals at the beginning of the second half, Ässie coach Jarno Pikkarainen comment.
– After that I saw that SaiPa grew and became free. Then it was a long journey.
SaiPa wrapped up the final set of the match with two goals and won 4–1.
– SaiPa was clearly better at the end of the game, Pikkarainen saw.
– We’re a bit young. We need to be able to grow up and be more blunt.
SaiPa leads the series with a 2–1 win. A place in the semi-finals requires four wins.
The fourth match of the series will be played on Monday in Pori, the fifth on Wednesday in Lappeenranta.
