HIFK secured their positions in third place in the League by coming from two goals behind to win 5–4 in the final set.
Roope Taponen, who started with HIFK’s goal, skates after JYP’s third goal for a change and Niko Hovinen replaces him. Matti Raivio / AOP
– After seven years, the 35-year-old who excelled in HIFK’s goal Niko Hovinen your enthusiasm after the sweet JYP win.
He has spoken in public about his drift into bad substance abuse problems in the middle of the last decade, which he overcame with the help of rehabilitation.
Are you even playing the best hockey of your career right now?
– Probably partially, but this is still a fairly short period. I don’t know how to punish, Hovinen answered.
The change in lifestyles has certainly played a big role. Otherwise you would hardly even play anymore?
– I probably wouldn’t play. It’s come a long way. The fact that I can still play hockey at all today is a pretty cool thing. I try to enjoy every day.
Kind of lucky
HIFK’s performance was strongly bullish.
– The beginning was really stiff. Jyppi was really ready for the first round. We had quite a long way back, but we improved all the time, Hovinen said.
JYP led the match twice with two goals, and went into the final set with a 4–2 lead.
– They showed tenacity and clearly played the best set. It was all ours, and luckily we got the goals we needed.
Teemu Tallbergin after narrowing down from close range, the equalizer came in 52.24 with a real pinball goal.
Julius Nättinen the missed shot bounced off the JYP keeper Wine Vehviläinen from defense as a meter-high loose puck, to which Eetu Koivistoinen reached for his club. The puck hit the side of the goal, a JYP defender by Nick Welsh into the skate and then into the front post, from where it bounced behind the bewildered Vehviläinen almost along the finish line – and Iiro Pakarinen flashed the donut into the oven.
Just 48 more seconds and the captain Ilari Melart shot the offensive head from the opening win to numbers 5–4, exploding Nordenskiöldinkatu’s puck-holy crowd of more than 8,000 people into a storm of screams.
– We managed to win, but also learned a lot along the way, Hovinen summed up.
The lessons offered by JYP in the first two rounds were discussed in HIFK’s booth during the second round break. Not only the coaches, but also the leading players were in the vote.
– There was no panic, Hovinen elaborated.
– More like, hey, this isn’t enough, we have to be able to do better.
Goalkeeper change
One turning point in the match was already seen in the middle of the opening set after JYP was leading the points market Jerry Turkulainen by hitting a 3–1 lead: HIFK replaced Hovisen who started with the goal Roope Taponen instead between the posts.
Jumping into the ring in the middle of a match is not easy for a goalkeeper.
– Of course you have to be ready, because the order can happen at any time, but it never feels like starting the game, Hovinen admitted.
– Fortunately, there were a couple of saves in the first set and I caught the plot from the end. Of course, we also improved game-wise after that bad start.
The puck went behind Hovinen, who played almost two and a half sets, only once.
In the previous two matches that Hovinen played before the international break, he did not concede a single goal. HIFK beat HPK 3–0 and KooKo 1–0 in them and now took the third win in a row.
A huge percentage
When Tomi Karhusen rehabilitation from the injury took longer, HIFK signed a one-year contract with Hovinen in August, which included a trial period that lasted until the end of October. Based on the performances of the two-meter-tall conkar, it was easy for the club to stamp the paper as covering the entire season.
Of HIFK’s three goalkeepers, the last to join the team seems to be taking on the role of number one goalkeeper – despite the fact that Taponen also played in the Karjala tournament last week.
Hovisen, who has saved in seven matches, has the best save percentage in the league, no less than 95.35, while Taponen’s corresponding reading is 88.75.
– It has gone quite well, but let’s go one game at a time. There are still more than 40 matches left, Hovinen warned against drawing conclusions that go too far.
– We have another pretty great guy next to us, he pointed to 22-year-old Tapose.
And the experienced Hovinen is right: Taponen will most certainly rock his game as the season progresses.
– I’m trying to earn my own playing time. “Tapsa” has been a big support for me, and I try to be that for him. After all, here at Kimpa we are doing work for the same goal, Hovinen reminded.