CSKA conquers Helsinki

Jokerit Helsinki - CSKA Moscow 1 : 3 (0:1; 1:0; 0:2)

A clash of two powerhouses: this would be an appropriate title for the game played today in front of ten thousand fans at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki. The Finnish team, Jokerit, against CSKA Moscow: a possible revenge for the former after last week's disappointing defeat 5 goals to 2.

A brave home team paid a strong lack of discipline despite the higher percentages in both terms of shoots-on-goal and of faceoffs won: the first Moscow goal even came ater barely two minutes into the first period, when Evgeny Korotkow sent the puck behind Finnish goalie Halenius. The following period the Jokers managed to reach a temporary draw, short-handed as they were but with a decisive sht by Petteri Wirtanen.

Anyways, Geoff Platt and Simon Hjalmarsson ultimately destroyed any Finnish dream in the third period, giving a deserved win to the least foul-making side (Jokerit even played a handful of seconds with only three moving players on ice). Fair enough, all three goals came on even strenght, with the last one on empty net.

Jokerit now risks to have to give up its top position in the Bobrov division's standings, while the danger posed by Croatian side Medveščak gets real: CSKA, on its part, goes on being the leader of the whole Western Conference.

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