Match report Lukko-SaiPa

Lukko - SaiPa 7 - 4 (3-2, 2-1, 1-1) Stats Photo gallery

SaiPa was the opponent of Lukko today in the Äijänsuon Arena. SaiPa started the season well with seven out of three. Lukko coach Jarmo Tolvanen had to make changes in his defensive pairs due to the injury of Toni Porkka. Shayne Toporowski replaces Porkka until that time as assistant captain.

Lukko was off to a bad start. At 1.27, it was Eetu Qvist who scored the first goal for SaiPa. Lukko recovered soon from this disastrous start. Less than two minutes later it was Miikka Tuomainen who scored 1 - 1. The assists came from Shayne Toporowski. Five minutes later Lukko scored the second goal. At 8.35, it was captain Eepi Hämäläinen who scored his first goal of the season, 2 - 1. Lukko was playing power play. One and half minute after the second goal, number three was behind SaiPa goalie Rob Zepp. In the scrimmage in front of his goal it was Teemu Normio who scored 3 - 1, assisted by Tuukka Mäkelä. Lukko played good hockey in this period.
After fifteen minutes it was SaiPa this time who scored, 3 - 2. Antti Philström punished sloppy defending of Lukko.

The second period was only 37 seconds going on when Juhamatti Yli-Junnila scored a fantastic goal, 4 - 2. It was a quick break away from Lukko. The puck was intercepted in the own defensive zone by Antti Bruun. Through Teemu Normio the play was quickly opened to Yli-Junnila who was already skating towards the offensive zone. He went alone to the SaiPa goal and beat Rob Zepp with a magnificient placed shot in the upper corner. It ment the end for Rob Zepp who was replaced by Mikko Strömberg.
Less than four minutes later Lukko scored again. Pasi Saarela made his second goal of the season, 5 - 2. The assists were from Antti Bruun and Jamie Wright. After the fifth goal Lukko fell back and SaiPa could come back in the game. After eleven minutes SaiPa scored 5 - 3. Ville Viitaluoma released a shot, which was not too hard, but Jokela was not able to keep it out of the net.

SaiPa was better in the third period. Lukko leaned back and waited. It was SaiPa though who started to believe in a good ending. Yli-Junnila was just three seconds on the penalty bench when Mikko Palomäki scored 5 - 4. The face in the defensive end of Lukko was won by Nylander and Palomäki hit a one timer.
SaiPa believed in its chances again and pushed Lukko back. Lukko kept concentrated and worked hard to get a two goal difference again. After eight minutes in the third period Lukko scored 6 - 4. Markku Paukkunen received the puck from Tommi Hannus on the blue line and released a shot. The puck changed course just before Strömberg could do something.
SaiPa took a time-out at 51.12, just when Lukko got a penalty for too many players on the ice. Lukko played good penalty killing so that SaiPa was not able to build up play in the offensive zone.
At 57.29, Mikko Stömberg was pulled. The face off in the defensive zone of Lukko was won by SaiPa by Lukko conquered the pucked quickly. Smoothly passing themselves out of their defensive zone, Markku Tähtinen was given his first goal of the season by Man of the Match Teemu Normio. The other assist was from Shayne Toporowski.

Lukko recovered well tonight from the loss against HPK. The seven goals were good for the confidence. Little by little the game play of Lukko is getting better.
Saturday is Lukko playing in Tampere against Tappara. The match starts at 17:00.