Esa Tikkanen experienced godparents in Florida: “Everybody was buzzing”

Esa Tikkanen In 1985-99, he played a total of 877 NHL regular season matches and scored 630 (244+386) points. The power would be even better even if the knee injuries would have plagued him towards the end of his career.

In the light of power in his best NHL season 1988-89, Tikkanen rocked in 67 games Salon 78 (31+47).

Tikkanen, who made his breakthrough at the top of the Edmonton Oilers, was especially known as a good playoff player, and the 186 Package Package produced 132 (72+60) power points.

In Finland, it is not fully understood how good the player Tikkanen was. One of him the most underestimated view was that Wayne Grezky and Jari Kurrin Alongside the fire, there would be a lot of power points.

The truth is, however, that many players were tested next to Gretzky and Kurr, but only Tikkanen was good enough to keep his place in the two NHL superstar chains.

The trio dominated the NHL 1985-88, until Gretzky was sold in the Los Angeles Kings.

Versatility

Power points were only part of Tikkanen’s holistic and diverse game. As a real fighter, he was also an excellent underdog player and otherwise carried responsibility in the defense.

For example, in the 1990 Stanley Cup final series against Boston Bruins, Tikkanen completely dark Craig JanneyBruins’ game brain. In the regular season Cam nely Had scored 55 goals alongside Janney, but the Janney-Nely-two who received the “Tiki Talk” in the finals did not succeed.

Unforgettable

One of the strengths of Tikkanen, known as a positive personality, was that he always seems to be in a good mood and spread it around.

Tikkanen played a long way for another thousand matches, so there is plenty to repeat at the highlights. He goes through the six most memorable matches of his career in chronological order.

Early 1970s, Jokerit-HJK 7-1

F-junior Championship final.

– For the first time, they were played at Nordenskiöldinkatu Hall. I did five and bait two. Yes it was like that, Tikkanen laughs at his childhood memory.

March 1983 HIFK -Ilves

A-junior SM final.

– The second and decisive finals were played in Helsinki and there was a full hut in the hall. It won 13-1 – or was it 13-3 – even though the Tampere people had a top team. It’s those eternal memories.

– I don’t remember my own power, but they were probably good when they were invited to the league.

March 17, 1983 Jokerit -HIFK 5–6

The third match of the Finnish Champions League finals and Tikkanen’s league debut.

– We had won the A’s championship and got a chain when the Jokers led the series 2-0. It was quite incomprehensible to go to play, Tikkanen said Tupu-Hupu-Lupu chain Paul Högbacka – Marko Rönkkö – Tikkanen’s first appearance.

With the energy brought by young people, HIFK turned the entire series and won the championship with a 3-2 win.

May 23, 1985 Philadelphia Flyers – Edmonton Oilers 1-3

Second match for Stanley Cup Finals and Tikkanen’s NHL debut.

-We came home from the Prague World Championships, and in the evening the phone rang. I got to see the NHL, but I didn’t have to play at all.

The Flyers won the first finals.

– Glen Sather After the game, came to say you would come in the morning with the team. I only had my own skates. Sather asked Jar to tell me I was playing with her and Wayne in the evening.

– In the first exchange I pulled Dave Brown over so that its gloves and helmet flew.

Nearly two -meter Brown was a flyers goon. The same post in the Oilers “Gretzky protector” Dave Semenko updated the situation for Tikkanen.

– He said that Oh my goddoes he now have to start taking care of me too. I replied that Well, Tiki whispers.

After the open -minded Finnish newcomer, the Oilers turned the series and celebrated the Stanley Cup championship with a 4-1 win.

May 24, 1990 Boston Bruins – Edmonton Oilers 1-4

The Fifth match of the Stanley Cup Finals, with the Oilers led the series with a 3-1 win.

– In the second round against Los Angeles, I liked Wayne Gretzky and went on to go. Next against Chicago, and I liked Denis Savardia. Then in the finals I liked Craig Janney. They had done so badly that John Muckler He told and told me that you could do this. Well, then everything went well and won the championship.

22.4.1997 New York Rangers – Florida Panthers 4-3 and.

The third match of the first round of the playoffs.

– In the previous game, I scored in Florida and everyone was buzzing with me. From this to a series of levels 1-1. Then we left for New York, and suddenly 18,500 people cheered on me, Tikkanen recalls his overtime goal.

-I came along the right side and shot from the b-point of the Little Miller to the upper corner. I started to ventilate, but the game continued and the judge just spread his hands. Then came a pale and the judges went to the video. I knew all the time that it was a paint – the puck just came out so fast out of the paint.

In overtime, Tikkanen also settled the entire match at the end of the fifth match in Florida.