Lahti and Turku complete quarterfinals

15 Mar 2016Markus Nisius»

The Lahti Pelicans defeated KalPa Kuopio in game 3 of the Finnish pre-playoffs to advance to the quarterfinals. On sunday TPS Turku already kicked out Vaasa.

TPS Turku (7) vs Vaasan Sport (10) 2-0 (4-2, 5-2)

The series between the two teams from the west coast was done in two days. On saturday TPS won its home game with 4-2. Ilkka Pikkarainen scored twice including the first and last goal of the game. In between Charles Bertrand and Teemu Tallberg could equalize two times, but in the end TPS could always pull away again.

On sunday Vaasa's Tero Koskiranta could give the home crowd a glimpse of hope with his go ahead goals after 3:41 minutes, but then TPS scored 5 goals, which Vaasa could not match anymore. TPS will face up with the reigning champion Oulun Kärpät in the quarterfinals.

KalPa Kuopio (8) vs Lahti Pelicans (9) 1-2 (3-2, 1-4, 1-2)

Things started off well for KalPa on saturday afternoon. Despite blowing an early 2-0 lead, established by Joni Nikko and Janne Keränen, in the final minute of regulation, they still scored the overtime winner through Sebastian Lauritzen 5:01 minutes into extra time.

But on sunday in Lahti the Pelicans came back. Juha Leimu scored twice in the first period and before Lauritzen could break Janne Juvonen's shutout, Stefan Lassen and Nico Manelius had already provided the necessary goals for a 4-1 win to tie the series.

So the final game had to be played tonight in Kuopio again. After 19:05 minutes it was Mikael Ruohomaa, who scored first for KalPa. But in the second period Kuopio's destiny turned against them. Again Juha Leimu on the powerplay and Ryan Potulny secured the 2-1 road win for Lahti. The Pelicans will have to travel to Helsinki now as they play HIFK in the quarterfinals.