As before with an HIFK game, the tickets were exchanging hands at ridiculous prices on internet auction sites. Some had paid €120 for a ticket, while other reports suggested that some had parted with €300 to get a piece of the action.
It is evident that hockey fever has really hit
The first period of the game was even with both teams mounting offence. Despite several penalties at the opening ten minutes of the first frame, the score remained 0-0. The first goal came with just a minute left in the first period when Jerry Ahtola notched a power play.
The second period saw the men in red go up by another goal when Toni Soderlund scored for HIFK, again on the power play. However, Blues got back in the game when Camilo Miettinen scored after 36 minutes of play to make it 2-1.
The third period saw HIFK score a goal that caused minor controversy. Blues goalie, Iiro Tarkki had lost his stick and blocker in a goal mouth scramble. The puck was still loose and the referees did not blow the whistle and Robert Nyholm used the situation by placing a shot on Tarkki’s blocker side, making it 3-1.
To Tarkki’s credit, he did try and reach for the puck with his bare hand, but came up short. The goal stood after the play was reviewed on video.
Petri Lammassaari brought Blues within one, but HIFK stood tall when Blues tried to equalise the game.
Game two of the SM-Liiga play offs will be played tonight at
Contact Janne.Virtanen@prohockeynews.com
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