Tappara one step away from Championship

Tampere could celebrate once again tonight. After turning around the series in the last 2 matches they also won the third consecutive game against Kärpät to make it 3-1 in the series. But none of those games was easy.

In Game 2 they needed a last minute goal by Ville Nieminen to destroy a Kärpät rally from 0-3 and even the series. Back in Oulu the game went back and forth until Antti Erkinjuntti scored the game-winner in the last period and tonight it took 15 minutes of overtime to determine a winner.

Finally Thomas Plihal secured the third Tappara win of the finals. And like in Game 3 it went back and forth before. Esa Pirnes opened the scoring late in the first period for Oulu, but in the second period Tappara came back. Nick Bailen on the power-play and Josh Green managed to give Tampere a 2-1 lead going into the last frame. And there it was the late goal specialist from game 1, Joonas Donskoi, who forced the overtime for Oulu. But as said, it ended with a happy end for Tappara.

Tampere will now try to seal the deal on Wednesday in Oulu.

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