Jokerit played an intense game, managing to come from a two-goal deficit to gain the lead. However, in the end, they were only able to secure one point.
Lappeenranta continues to remain undefeatable against Jokerit in this season’s regular hockey Mestis season. This marks a significant point in the rivalry between the two teams.
The game, which was home to both Jokerit and Imatran Ketterä, saw Ketterä emerge victorious on Friday with a 5-4 win in overtime. This extends their winning streak to six games and further solidifies their position in the second place of the regular season.
Ketterä managed to extend its lead over the third-placed Jokerit to seven points. This was largely due to the efforts of Miku Ronkainen who successfully wrestled the puck away from a well-performing Kolppanen at 64.07.
Ronkainen then boldly rose to the goal, managing to score between Oskari Kalajanniskan and Santeri Haakana.
Jokerit, however, showed a strong defense right from the start. Within just five minutes of the game, Erkka Seppälä managed to give Jokerit the lead. His determined end game play saw him recover the puck for his team and pass it over to Lindiwho, who then dropped it to Haakana.
Haakana then shot and Seppälä managed to control the puck behind Santeri Lipiainen.
Despite missing several quality chances in the opening set, Niko Lahtinen managed to score Jokerit’s second goal from the b-point arc. This was largely due to the excellent preliminary work by Haakana and Seppälä.
Valtteri Jeskanen, who managed to take a shot from Otto Karvinen saved by Lipiäinen, scored Jokerit’s equalizer. He took possession of the puck with his right foot and placed his shot right at the foot of the post.
Golden helmet Alexander Forslund managed to give Jokerit the lead in the middle of the final period with a superior performance. His shot deflected off a Ketterä defender’s stick and went straight into the goal.
Forslund scored the puck from the line for the shot at 48:22, thanks to the preliminary work of Hannes Häkkilä and Kalajanniska.
Forslund’s seventh goal of the season came after just 19 seconds of a power play, lifting the Jokers to a full point pot.
Agile players, including Mikko Haaparanta, Aleksi Akkila, Henri Ravinskis, and Akseli Mäkinen, all contributed to Ketterä’s victory with their respective goals.
Jokerit’s next match is scheduled for Saturday against Kiekko-Espoo at Nordis.
This news will continue to be updated.
