Glimmer of Hope as HIFK wins over HPK 4-2

  • By Antti Kivinen
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  • Overseas
HIFK scores in a nervous win (Photo via jatkoaika.com/Tomi Hanninen)

Editor's note: Antti Kivinen has joined Hockey Shopped as our foreign correspondent based in Finland

A glimmer of light for HIFK during dark times. Perreault & Perrault dominate on power play. HIFK wins HPK 4-2

HIFK's 1 and 4 from last 5 games was the starting point for tonight's game. With few key players still missing from tonights roster, the crowd at Helsinki hand't too high hopes for the game. Only 6751 spectators showed up tonight (total capacity at 8500)

Fans are temporarily comforted by tonight's win despite a coaching drama that seems to be at the top of the conversation right now for HIFK

Both teams started the game nervously. It seemed that HIFK was holding the puck more in the first, but few bad mistakes in the defending zone resulted in better early scoring opportunities for HPK. However at 14:19, Arttu Luttinen forwarded the puck in front of HPK's net. It was first the defence man Toni Söderholm, (team captain for tonight) who shot the puck from mid air towards the goal but the puck dropped behind the goalie where Matty was waiting. He had an easy task to put the puck in the empty net. After the goal HIFK nervousness was evident. At 17:09 poor pass on the neutral zone resulted in HPK counter attack with the 2-on-1 and the game was tied.

Beginning of the second was even more unorganized playing by both teams. However it was HIFK who was able to capitalize during this fuzzy phase of the game. At 04:42 Joakim Ericson reflected Thomas Nykopp's shot and HIFK took the lead again. During Eric Fehr's (Jets) roughing penalty at 10:05, it was Matty's time to step into the lime light again. He initiated a passing combination that resulted in Toni Söderholms 3-1 goal. The goal clearly turned the momentun for HIFK. In terms of quality the end of second period was the best phase of the game. HIFK was able to put the pressure in to HPK's defending zone. This resulted in to Eric Fehr's second penalty. Once more it was the Perreault-Perrault combination that orchestrated the 4th goal for HIFK at
Third period didn't offer much elegance, HIFK tried to play as tight defence as they currently are able and HPK was too nervous and sloppy on the puck to turn the momentum. At 18:00 HPK was able to tighten the gap with 6-on-5. This wasn't enough and HIFK took the win. HPK's 65 shots in total against HIFK's 33, doesn't really give an accurate picture of tonights game as HIFK managed to stay on top most of the night.

Matty's performance tonight
This was the second full game I saw him play. It seems, that his skating is still in a bit of an offseason shape, but his skill with the puck and clever movement compensates his out of form skating. The 5-on-5 game with his lines men Markus Granlund and Eero Somervuori is improving, but to get better results it requires that both Markus and Eero are on top of their game in the coming games. On the other hand the Perrault-Perreault combination on power play seems to be working in full effect. Tonight Matty had TOI of 14:39 with 1 goal and 2 assists, shooting total of four shots.

For HIFK there is little to celebrate after tonight, as the team is to face Ilves (Lynx/Bobcat in english) at Tampere in less than 24 hours. This might also be too little too late for the head coach Pasi Sormunen as the speculations of his replacement intensify.

More photos from the match over at jatkoaika.com