For the second consecutive game, SaiPa Lappeenranta defeated Tappara Tampere by a two-goal margin. They're now on to the Round of 16. Read more in Gamecentre. 

by Silja Schemeikka

SaiPa Lappeenranta took the second win, 4-2 in the game and 6-2 on aggregate, from Tappara Tampere. The game wasn’t as decisive as the numbers indicate, however. After the first game the score was 2-0 for SaiPa. Tappara needed to score three goals and not let SaiPa have any.

SaiPa scored their first goal of the game after seven minutes. Good defence game and blocking the puck led to the situation where Tero Koskiranta got an opportunity to score the game's opening goal.

Manu Honkanen's goal in the 10th minute brought Tappara even the game, when his hard shot from the blue line beat goalie Jussi Markkanen.

The next goals came in the second period. First SaiPa’s Mikael Kuronen with a toe-drag goal and then a minute later Tappara’s Honkanen was left alone and he scored his second. The next goal was scored by SaiPa's Eetu Koski. Toni Leivo’s excellent pass found Koski, who scored SaiPa’s third goal from an excellent shooting spot.

Leivo, Koski and Kuronen were SaiPa's best line in the game. Koski and Kuronen both scored once and assisted once, while Leivo assisted on two goals. Kuronen was satisfied as well as himself and his team. 

“Our goal was to make our way to the next round. Now we've done it and of course we are happy,” he said after game.

The trio has played several games together but recently many injuries have mixed up the lines. SaiPa head coach Ari Santanen is happy that the injured players are getting healthy and the coaches now have the opportunity to make the lineup as they want.

“The Leivo-Koski-Kuronen line was re-united this game and the boys played a good game. I hope we can continue this way with our players staying healthy,” Santanen said in the press conference.

Kuronen was happy to play again with his old linemates. “It is nice to play in same line with Leivo and Koski. We have a clear assignment how to play the game. The game went well with this line and I hope that we can continue together,” he summarized.

Brock Trotter played his first game in SaiPa in tonight Champions Hockey League game and immediately scored his first goal on the power play with an effective shot to the top right corner.  

“Trotter showed that he can play on the power play and brings extra firepower to it. Great first game, maybe he didn’t get so much time on the ice, but when he played he really caused some dangerous moments,” Santanen said.

Tappara head coach Jussi Tapola admitted that SaiPa earned their place in the next round. “We couldn't win today. The result was as honest as it can be. SaiPa was better in both games and earned the right to continue in the Champions Hockey League.”