The puck legend does not give mercy to the main referees of the hot HIFK-TPS match.
HIFK’s Miro Karjalainen took TPS’s Jonne Tammela to Helsinki on Saturday and flew into the shower. Matti Raivio / AOP
How many legends Esa Tikkanen went into the fray when he followed the fourth semi-final of the SM league between HIFK and TPS on Saturday.
– The judges were full-fledged. They shouldn’t be whistling anymore. Everyone makes mistakes, but there can be at least two such big mistakes in the same game, Tikkanen says.
In the match, the judges were divided Riku Brander and Kristian Vikman.
– I don’t want IFK or TPS to suffer. This was a disaster for the judges. Both are top teams. Neither team wants this to end like this.
After a video check, the chief judges passed IFK Jordan Schmaltzin and Miro Karjalainen in the shower.
Schmaltz was sentenced to a 5 + 20 minute penalty for flipping. The attack was on TPS Markus Nurmeen.
– Nurmi filmed 100%. Was Nurmi injured? No way. He played after that and scored, Tikkanen commented.
– Two minutes from the moment it would have been the right verdict, he continues.
The Karelian was sentenced to 5 + 20 minutes for a tackle that hit the head or neck. The defender tackled TPS Jonne Tammelaa.
– The rigging by no means hits the head. The judges left for the Mickey Mouse job. Judges, wake up! Now playing the playoffs in hockey.
The colorful match ended with TPS’s away victory 7-5. The score is now 2-2.
In that famous big picture, the five Stanley Cup men are raking in the variation of the referee line from one playoff game to another.
– Completely out of line. Now we are looking for a Finnish champion in hockey, not a champion of the judges, “Tiki” is rolling.
– Watch the Ilves – Kärpät match series. There’s great hockey being played and whistling just like in the playoffs, he continues.
Esa Tikkanen is the man of five Stanley Cups. Pasi Liesimaa / IL