Charles-Edouard D’Astous was thrown out.
Charles-Edouard D’Astous fell for a dirty trick. Jaakko Stenroos / AOP
The opening of the quarterfinals of the SM league between Tappara and KooKoo showed what kind of difference in level there is between the rested top team and the pitiful challenger who has played three games in the playoffs.
Tappara won 4–0 and did it routinely. Christian Heljangon the scoreless game broke with 19 saves.
Golden helmet Jori Lehterä was the home team’s hero of the night. He completed two hits and also served one tasty goal assist.
Lehterä’s 1–0 goal was created in a special way, when his turning shot surprised the masked KooKoo keeper Oskari Setänen pants in bunches. Setänen didn’t react to the itch in any way, because he didn’t even see the shot go off.
After this, Lehterä presented his best skills, i.e. passing skills. He placed the puck with surgical precision Veli-Matti Savinainen shoulder in front of the goal, and the puck was in the backpack. Lehterä hardly even had time to see his chain mate, but he knew exactly where he was.
The arbor and Niko Ojamäki hit again in the third set and stopped KooKoo’s pursuit.
Torkynit
Two minutes before the final buzzer we saw a sad situation when KooKoon Charles-Edouard D’Astous you tackled in frustration Walter Merelää.
D’Astous’s hands were high and he hit Merelä in the head. After the video review, the Canadian flew into the shower from a tackle aimed at the head.
KooKoo already played his sixth match in eight days on Friday. The pace is completely insane.
Jori Lehterä scored the opening goal in style. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP