A no-stakes game in Prague took an unfortunate turn.
Nikita Krivokrasov left the game in the final game of the CHL preliminary round. Mikko Lieri / AOP
Mikkelin Jukurit is finishing its first CHL group stage in the club’s history in Prague. In the group, there will be no more playoffs, because in addition to Jukuri, Luleå Hockey will go to the playoffs.
A week ago, Sparta Praha, which suffered from plane problems, took Jukurit into its home cave and quickly showed that it will not slow down in a game without stakes. During the second period, Sparta took a 2–1 lead, but Pekka Jormakka quickly brought Jukurt up to par.
In the middle of the game it hurt worse. Sparta’s 195-centimeter winger Buy Safin your tackle 15 centimeters shorter Nikita Krivokrasov elbow to the face. The referees had no choice but to give Safin a match penalty for the tackle on the head.
Krivokrasov remained lying on the ground until he was helped up by two men. The Russian-American attacker, who was clearly in a coma, was taken to the locker room for examination.
Head coach of the Jukurs Olli Jokinen didn’t digest Safin’s trick.
– Fuck in the elbow, fuck in the head, Jokinen shouted in Finnish on C More’s broadcast.
Jukurit used the five-minute advantage effectively. Daniel Mäkiaho and Hannes Häkkilä scored goals in turn.
The special situation successes put a calm Jokinen in a good mood. Jarkko Immonen led field wanted to return to the ice to score more goals, but captain Jokinen kept the Konkars on the bench until the end of the superiority.
– Not yet. After this. You already did. You are one through one with yyvee. Let’s keep it one hundred percent, Jokinen grinned.
The energy of the game waned in the final set, even though goals were scored. Jukurit styled away to win by 3–6.
In the playoffs, Jukurit will face an opponent of a different class, when two of the group winners will be drawn for the team. Jukurit cannot yet face Tappara, who won their own group earlier in the evening.