KalPa experienced a harsh setback – “All the shock treatment in the world that can come”

Juha Jatkola has repelled KalPa with a strong goal. Tomi Natri / All Over Press

KalPa’s number one keeper Juha Jatkola had to leave the game against the Pelicans in the final minutes of the third period on Monday.

The Pelicans Tyler Kelleher brought the people of Lahti to a 1-1 draw a minute before the end of the third period, after which Jatkola had to be dragged from the ice to the shelter of the locker room.

KalPa’s head coach Tommi Miettinen could not yet give more information about his protégé’s injury.

– Let’s examine the man, then make a diagnosis, he commented to Iltalehte.

– We discussed and talked. However, I can’t play doctor.

Jatkola, 20, has saved in three games against the Pelicans with a save percentage of 94.3. Kuopio’s second goalkeeper is Swedish Robin Rahm.

– Jatkola is a big player for us. We have a goalkeeper who has played eight games and won five of them. An experienced professional, that’s not a concern, Miettinen said.

It was only a moment after Jatkola was injured, when ice-cold water fell on KalPa’s neck again.

Kelleher managed to score again and gave the Pelicans a 2–1 victory. The winning goal came just 19 seconds after the end of the third period.

– All the shock treatment in the world that can come, came in that one minute. That’s what hockey is sometimes, Miettinen said and continued:

– Goals always come from mistakes, that’s how it goes. It belongs in this game. All chance was against us at that moment. Now it will be dealt with and we will strike again on Wednesday.

However, according to Miettinen, KalPa was really close to an away win. The head coach calls for increasing the scoring efficiency.

KalPa dominated the opening set.

– We were a bit ineffective in the first half. We created 4–5 top positions, from which 1–2 goals should have been scored. We were totally on top of the game. In both away games, we have been really strong in the first periods, but we should have scored two goals.

The playoff series between the teams has been extremely high quality. The intensity of the games has been high, and there hasn’t been much room for the puck player to operate in the rink.

The teams meet next time on Wednesday. The Pelicans lead the playoff series with a 2–1 win.