JYP-Pelicans 5-4 OT (series 3-1)

JYP and Pelicans offered a very entertaining fourth SM-liiga final. JYP was once again a little bit better and earned their win which was very close to come already in a regulation time.

In the first period Pelicans made two nice goals by Radek Smolenak and Ilkka Pikkarainen. But after a good start Pelicans again made easy mistakes. First Justin Hodgman lost the puck on own blueline and Filip Riska took an immediate slap shot right to the  top corner of Pelicans goal.
In the second period when Pelicans had power play their defender Jan Latvala lost the puck with a sloppy play behind own goal, JYP's Petr Hubacek took the puck, passed in front of the goal and Jani Tuppurainen equalized 2-2. Two more goals were scored in second period by Teemu Rinkinen for Pelicans and Frenchmen Yohan Auvitu for JYP.

There were also couple of questionable situations in the second period. Justin Hodgman was hit to the head by Filip Riska and Hodgman left the rink bleeding but no penalty for Riska. Then JYP's Miika Lahti ran over Pelicans goalie Joonas Kuusela and was penalized with a 5 minute major penalty allthough he was clearly pushed over the goalie by a Pelicans defender. Goalie Kuusela continued to the end of the period but for the final period in came 17 year old Janne Juvonen who played very good.

Third period was hard fighting all the way. After seven minutes JYP received a penalty shot when Jani Tuppurainen was tripped by Joonas Jalvanti.
Tuppurainen's penalty shot was poor when he lost the puck and didn't even get a shot at goal.

It looked like JYP is going to win the game in a regulation when their defenseman Olli Malmivaara had a breakaway after his penalty and scored for 4-3. Pelicans didn't give up and Radek Smolenak managed to score his second goal of the game only 27 seconds before end.

In overtime both teams had their chances but goalies were superb. Then the end came as usual in overtime from a situation whichactually  wasn't even a good scoring chance. Harri Pesonen sent a hard shot from the hashmarks and from a pretty narrow angle but Pelicans goalie Juvonen was a bit screened by own defender and he couldn't really see the puck which went in top corner over his shield.

JYP is now one win away to get the trophy in their hands. Games in final series have been somehow irritating for Pelicans. They have played mostly well, created scoring chances and fighting hard but then come easy mistakes on own power play, stupid penalties etc. and JYP uses these situations cold blooded. On the other hand these are the things that make the champions. On Monday JYP will have first chance to lift the cup.