HIFK beat HPK 2-0, overtook it in the League standings and rose to fourth.
The puck is a HIFK guard in Michael Garteig’s glove. Matti Raivio / AOP
HIFK goalkeeper Michael Garteig has improved their game significantly as the season progresses.
Of his first 11 matches this fall, he won only four wins. He now has an equal number of wins in the last five games, and HPK also came out in the first draw of the season.
– We played wisely and patiently and defended closely. It is good to learn to win these low-key matches. That’s important for playoffs, Garteig summed up.
HPK was closer to the opening goal, however Aleksi Mustonen the hit at the end of the opening round was discarded after a video review as a kick and in the second round, Garteig saved Mustonen’s bet from the open with a football-style tiger jump.
Defender Yohann Auvitun the hit at the start of the final round was the winning goal, and Iiro Pakarinen seal the end numbers from 2 to 0 at the end.
The profit from HPK was HIFK’s first Jarno Pikkarainen training Hämeenlinna residents. The club won the previous three mutual ex-HIFK pilots after Pikkarainen became the team’s coach in October.
At home, the victory was already in HIFK’s Fifth Tube, and the team has only scored five goals.
External pressure
HIFK confirmed their attack before the league transfer time a week ago expired. I was amazed at the discussion boards and in the media that the sports director did not Tobias Salmelainen strengthened the goalkeeping department.
Garteig and those who have been on the sidelines recently for various corona reasons Niilo Halonen formed a tandem that did not inspire the full confidence of the team’s followers in the spring.
The recent excellent grips of an experienced Canadian have dispelled doubts. His rejection rate has risen to 90.3.
– In the middle of the season, my game fluctuated a bit, but we worked hard with the coaching, Garteig said, thanking the goalkeeper coach in particular. Jan Lundellia.
– Tight games started to win, and I gained confidence in my game again. The team has played very well in front of me.
Praise from the field
HIFK head coach Ville Peltonen took a stand on the debate around Garteig and gave his full support to the goalkeeper.
– From the beginning of the season, when he played, we often scored a lot of goals. It became a bit of an outside commotion, but he and the team have been able to root it out.
– “Garts” is a top team player and really liked us. Very good goalkeeper, Peltonen praised.
– It is great to see that there will be successes and hard work will be rewarded, he continued, referring to the development of Garteig and Halonen in Lundell’s coaching.
The HPK victory ended HIFK’s fierce start, playing four matches in five days. The last three of them ended in victory, and the team will next meet Kärpät in Helsinki on Friday.