Tappara Tops Finnish Liiga, Defeats Jukurit to Surpass Assat

Tappara has reclaimed the top position in the Finnish Liiga after a thrilling home victory against Jukurit. This win allows them to surpass both JYP and former leaders Assat.

Key Match Highlights

The contest took place on Tuesday, with Assat suffering a second consecutive loss, falling 5-3 to Kiekko-Espoo. This defeat provided an opportunity for JYP to take the lead or for Tappara to climb to the summit based on goal difference, contingent upon their victory over Jukurit.

JYP struggled in their match against Pelicans, trailing 3-0 within the first 20 minutes. A goal by Ossi-Veikka Vuontisvaara brought some hope, but JYP ultimately lost 3-1. This result opened the door for Tappara, who had previously faced Jukurit in Mikkeli, needing extra time to secure a win.

Decisive Moments and Player Performance

In their latest encounter, Tappara entered the game needing a win within regulation time to ascend to first place. Early in the first period, Joachim Blichfeld scored during a power play, giving Tappara a lead with five minutes remaining. Eetu Tuulola quickly extended their advantage to 2-0 in the second period.

• Thomas Olsen responded for Jukurit, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
• Benjamin Rautiainen restored the two-goal cushion just before the second intermission.

The third period saw intense competition. Connor Ford again diminished the lead for Jukurit. Jesper Piitulainen then leveled the score, making it 3-3 with over six minutes left.

Dramatic Conclusion

As the clock wound down, it appeared the match would go into overtime. However, Blichfeld scored the game-winner with only seven seconds remaining, sealing a 4-3 victory for Tappara.

This win marked Tappara’s fourth consecutive victory, while Jukurit extended their losing streak to five games, dropping to ninth place in the standings. Meanwhile, Kiekko-Espoo consolidated their position in fifth by defeating Vaasan-Sport 3-2.

In other matches, IFK Helsinki secured a 3-1 away victory against Lukko, while SaiPa ended their losing streak impressively, overwhelming TPS Turku 6-1. KalPa maintained momentum with a 4-1 win over Hameenlinna.

For comprehensive statistics and results from the Liiga, fans can visit El-Balad.