Match report Lukko-Jokerit

Lukko - Jokerit 4 - 2 (1-1, 2-0, 1-1) Stats

Finally a home wins again and the first win since four matches. That is the result after an evening of ice hockey between two teams who are looking for their game. Lukko did not win a home game since the 4-0 against Blues on October 8th.

Lukko was off to a good start. They directly pressured the Jokerit defence and goalie Steve Passmore had to intervent right away. It did not take long before Lukko got rewarder for the good start. At 3.41, Petri Lammassaari scored his second goal of the season. Antti Bruun fired a shot from the blue line which was lightly touch by Lammassaari. Passmore could not parry the shot and Lukko lead 1-0. Ville-Vesa Vainiola got the other assist, his first of this season.

Jokerit had trouble getting over the early goal. Lukko helped a little by falling back and not always secure passing. In the 9th minute one of these moments helped Jokerit to a 1-1. Sloppy defending in the defensive zone of Lukko gave Jokerit the equalizer. Petri Varis received the pass from Ilari Filppula to score 1-1. Esa Kivistö had conquered the puck in between two Lukko defenders and got the second assist.

The first period did not have many penalties, only one for Lukko and two for Jokerit. This would chance in the second period.

Jokerit played in the second period more than 8 minutes of power play against Lukko less than two. It broke them because Lukko was tonight clever enough to profit this. Midway through the second period, Antti Bruun scored his frist goal of the season and the 2-1 lead for Lukko. He fired a shot from the blue line after a pass from Jaakko Hagelberg, just 3 second before the power play of Jokerit ended. Steve Passmore did not look good with this shot and should have saved it but nobody in Rauma (except for the Jokerit fans) cared about that.

The second power play goal was a classic one. Lukko brought the puck into the offensive zone. Toporowski passed it to Tähtinen. Jamie Wright, in the meanwhile, skated to the second post at the goal and stood ready there to tip in the perfect pass of Tähtinen, 3-1, again a power play goal. It was a well deserved lead for Lukko.

The third period was only 27 seconds old when Jamie Wright scored his second goal. Jokerit had to do some penalty killing after Esa Kivistö served a penalty for not being able to count until five. Wright was again standing close to the goal to finish a pass from Tommi Hannus, 4-1. Lukko had finished the match quick in the third period and could now wait for Jokerit. The match became faster but not better. Passing was not secure enough from both sides. Both goalies also had some good saves.

Five minutes before the end Esa Kivistö gave Jokerit a little bit of hope when he scored 4-2. At the end the match got a little bit unfriendly. This started all when Tony Virta checked Tommi Hannus to the head. Hannus did not like it and punched Virta in the face. Virta got a 2+10 and Hannus got a minor penalty for roughing. Eleven second after that Tähtinen got a penalty for interference. Lukko had to end the game with three players on the ice. Jokerit pulled Passmore but none of this all helped. After a scrimmage in front of the Lukko goal, Langkow attacked Hyvönen and got a 2+2 for slashing and roughing. Hyvönen only got a minor penalty for slashing. This all happened after the buzzer went.

Finally a win again for Lukko. Although much could be improved, the start was there. Especially the fourth line made a good impression. Lammassaari was Man of the Match. He was a constant tread to the Jokerit defence, with his highly skilled technique and good skating. Vainiola got ice time in his favorite position, as a centre, and showed his potential.

Thursday is the next home match against JYP.