Mestis decision day

Tuesday 25.3, and two games are taking place to decide the second play off finalist and the second team from the qualification group to join Titaanit in Mestis next season. The situation facing each team is straightforward and perfectly equal: win or else.

Hokki 6-2 Jukurit
Two games each in the play off semi-final. After 40 minutes the home team led 4-2. A disastrous opening 10 minutes for the visitors saw them ship three goals. They replied late in the period to trail at the 20 minute mark by 3-1. Jukurit’s goalie, Joni Myllykoski, at this point was saving at only 50%. The second period started almost as well as the first for Hokki, scoring early in the period to restore the three goal lead, but shortly afterwards missing a penalty shot. In a repeat of the first period, Jukurit scored late to reduce the deficit back to two goals. Two further goals in the third period hammered the lid on Jukurit’s coffin very firmly down. This game got away from the visitors in the first ten minutes, and the reigning champions return to the final.

Salamat 3-4 D-Kiekko
The “extra” game in the qualification group, necessitated by the two teams finishing dead level in second place. A goalless first period, the men from Jyväskylä broke the deadlock after 4:25 of the second, only to give up two power play goals later in the period. At the second break Salamat led 2-1. D-Kiekko equalised within two minutes of the start of the third period, and then took the lead mid-way through the period. Five minutes later the home team scored the third equaliser of the evening, and with no further goals the score at full time was 3-3. Into sudden death extra time, and after 66:34 Pirkka Lahtinen, just out of the bin for diving, scored the winner. D-Kiekko climb up to Mestis, Salamat flash down into Suomi-sarja.