Jouko Myrrä was a satisfied man in the hall.
KooKoo took another shot at the Finnish championship on Monday evening, when it beat Tappara on its home field 3-2 at the end of a wild thriller.
Tappara had the keys in their own hands when they were able to play the last two minutes of the third period with a two-man advantage.
However, KooKoo fought and sacrificed, and Tappara’s 5v3 situation ended up being a surprisingly stalemate.
– Yes, the three plus [Eetu] “Kake” Randelinwho were there on the ice, gave the Tampere dialect a so-called “roppa likoon”, a satisfied KooKoo-commander Bunch of Myrrh lingered after the game.
Did the head coach’s knees shake in the last minutes of the final set?
– No, rather, I tried to reassure the players that this thing will be done, he laughed.
– My task on the bench is to create a mental landscape that things will get done and that we will endure the difficult periods.
And the season’s sensational team KooKoo has endured. The runner-up in the regular season has taken a tight neck and neck race from Tappara.
KooKoo’s head coach Jouko Myrrä shared his views towards the jury from behind the hosts’ bench. Pasi Liesimaa
Tight tight
The second final was hotter than the first, twisted match in the Nokia Arena.
Lating’s sense also on the bench.
– Yes, there was something and everything, and that’s how it should be. Each game is always its own story in a certain way. Both had their moments.
The home crowd also got heated at the end of the third period, when KooKoo received two different penalties in 57.57 and was outnumbered by two men. The situation was of rare quality in the playoffs.
Loud shouts of “nuija” echoed in the Lumon arena.
Myrrä did not comment on the refereeing.
– There is nothing to say about the judges, he announced.
He, on the other hand, went so far as to praise the loud home crowd.
– Even during the game, I tried to tell the guys to enjoy now. Here the cabin is full and they scream and live with us. They [kannattajat] live this spring of Kouvola and KooKoo with us. These are unique moments.
Myrrä expects something similar from the third final match. He believes the teams will improve.
– The task of coaching is to chew on this game again and then take into account what Tappara changes or where Tappara was good today. Our basic playing must be at our own good and best level, so that we can generally fight for victory. But of course, koutsi will do the work again for tomorrow and Wednesday.
The third final of the SM League will be played on Wednesday at the Nokia Arena from 18:30.
