Pelicans beat KalPa 2–1 in the opening of the quarterfinals in Lahti.
Teemu Eronen (center) enjoyed a tough quarter-final opening. Tomi Natri / AOP
The teams had been waiting for their playoff opening for almost a week, so the energy levels were dead.
In Lahti, we saw a wonderful, intense and physical match, where, to put it in a fashionable word, the demand for a fight was tough.
Tackles were completed, punches were taken and given, and small scuffles broke out here and there.
– At least I got quite a few hits right from the start. I was probably more on the surface of the ice today than standing up. Got some trouble, but what’s the matter, really mageeta, the experienced leader of the Pelicans defense Teemu Eronen smiled in an interview with C More.
Back over
The opening set was for KalPa, who was busy with long attacks, and the forgotten defender was free in the first sector Jesper Mattila fired the visitors into the lead.
– We knew that KalPa would play well in the beginning, but in the second set we gained momentum, Eronen summed up aptly.
At the end of the set, there was a well-deserved equaliser. Miika Roine couldn’t get the puck free in front of the goal, but he was able to offer with a beautiful inside pass Joni Ikonen drawing position: 1–1.
At the beginning of the third period, the Pelicans took the lead by Tyler Kelleher by directing a hit from the corner of the goal, to which Ben Blood made an accurate pass from the blue line.
– I don’t know if we wanted that winning goal a little more, Eronen said.
Shower sentence
Despite the tough physical reception, no worse excesses were seen, unless you count the Pelicans pack as such Anton Mylläri a tackle that led to an ejection.
KalPan was targeted by Päätälli Kasper Simontaivalbut the situation was more of Mylläri’s babbling and carelessness than actual sloppiness.
This 5+20 minutes of the end of the opening set was the hosts’ only cooldown. KalPa, on the other hand, was whistled for five second-place finishes. Although the Pelicans didn’t manage to score a power play goal, special situations helped them take control of the game.
– This gives a good starting point for tomorrow, Eronen turned his attention to Saturday’s second game in Kuopio.
– There’s not much time to keep your hands up here. Let’s enjoy five minutes.