Tampere saw drama both in the stands and on the field.
by Les Lancaster the goals guaranteed Ilves an extremely important victory in a tight spot. In addition to the handsome rise, the topic of conversation was the push seen in the stands.
Ilves and Pelicans’ fourth semi-final battle hadn’t even started yet when the most talked about thing of the match happened. The turquoise smoke bomb that exploded in Lahtlaispäädy led to measures by law enforcement officers and general confusion.
Defender Les Lancaster, who became Ilves’ biggest hero on Saturday, told how he experienced a special situation.
– We were still waiting to get on the ice when I saw a flare or something like that. I was like, what the hell is this?
– There was smoke on the ice and a lot of orderlies in the stands. We still didn’t know what was going to happen, Lancaster said.
The smoke bomb caused a pungent smell around the hall, but the start of the game was not delayed.
– Finnish fans are crazy! Lancaster broke down.
A huge win
Les Lancaster (left) aired his winning goal with devotion. Mika Kylmäniemi/AOP
The match itself was quite an exciting drama. Pelicans was close to grabbing their third place in the finals, but in the final set, Ilves showed strong character and won.
– This was a huge victory. In the playoffs, you don’t really stay in the lead as long as you don’t lose home advantage. A 3–1 defeat would have been really bad, three matches in a row is really hard to win, Lancaster stated.
In the early part of the match, Pelicans set the pace in the rink properly for the first time in this series and hit Ilves in the back of the net to a 2–0 defeat.
– It wasn’t really our best game at the beginning. The Pelicans started with our style of hockey, skated a lot and created a lot of pressure.
However, Lancaster’s first goal of the evening in the middle of the match was a turning point that could save Ilves’ dreams of a final place.
– Our first goal gave the crowd and us energy. We got into the game at that point, Lancaster saw.
In the final set, Ilves seized the momentum in a mentally tight spot. The effective superiority scored two goals, of which Lancaster’s shot in 55:15 was the winning goal.
– We emphasized patience in the second set break. We knew we could get an upper hand or two. Then you just have to take advantage of the opportunities.
Trials
Ilves has the burden of breaking a 25-year streak without a final and a 38-year streak without a championship, among other things. The expectations are in the championship and the pressure from the big club community is strong.
During Saturday’s match, there was doubt about Ilves’ mental strength, but the rise of the final set was a strong argument in favor of a strong group.
– We learned a lot from last year’s semi-final against TPS and the seven-match quarter-final against Kärppi. You don’t build a championship team overnight, and those were important experiences for us.
Lancaster also gave credit to Pelicans, who have caused considerable difficulties for Ilves with their pressing style of play.
– They don’t give much time in the central area and in our defensive end. They are also very organized in their own defensive area.
For Lancaster himself, Saturday’s top game was certainly also personally important, as the Yankee defender’s spring has been slowed down by injuries.
– I’m still not 100% fit, but the match schedule has helped me. The long break did me good.
– I’m in better shape now than at the end of the regular season and against Ässi, Lancaster revealed.