An incredibly disappointing first home game of the season for TPS saw simple errors and missed chances gift the points to Ässät. Over 6100 were at the HK Areena. It was my first entry with my season ticket and the view from F1 isn't bad at all, though at times that was a curse, not a blessing. That said, I will be treated to a poster of one time Hull Thunder player Marko Kivenmaki looking down upon me each game. By the way, when I say one time, I mean he literally played one game in the UK. Those were simpler times.
Unlike the season opener, TPS managed to survive the first eleven seconds without conceding, but the side from Pori had the better of the opening exchanges and when an inexplicable outlet pass from Huczkowsi went directly to Mika Niemi who strolled in on net and somehow forced the puck past Schwarz. 1-0 Ässät and less than three minutes played. Most of the period was disrupted by penalties, with the game struggling to flow as a result. Once things had returned to five on five TPS struck back with a nice effort. Anttila carried the puck into the zone, stopped and fired the puck toward the back post. Plihal jumped over the puck, obstructing Järvenpää and it carried through to the onrushing Vahalahti who tipped it in. Soon afterwards Stephen Dixon picked up the second of the three minors he would receive after scuffling with Toni Mäkiaho near the benches.
Whilst both teams had struggled to get a grip on the game in the first, the second was more free-flowing. TPS had got back into the game and went on the powerplay after goalscorer Niemi decided to punch someone in the face in front of the referee. TPS turned over the puck just as the penalty expired and Uusitalo fed Niemi who received the puck with just Schwarz to beat. His first touch was poor and knocked the puck too far forward. It seemed like Schwarz could easily beat Niemi to the puck and poke check it clear but instead sat back on his line, let Niemi attack him and force the puck five hole. After a long consultation to whether the puck had crossed the line the goal was given and TPS went into the break a goal behind.
The third period saw TPS dominate and at times play nice hockey, but just as the crowd were beginning to get behind them Ässät struck against the run of play. Ässät gained possession in their own zone and Tommi Taimi's wristshot snuck through the legs of Huczkowski to Savinainen who had an easy finish coming in from the right wing. The goal took the wind out of TPS's sails and you never really felt they had the cutting edge to come back from two down. As the minutes dragged on Jakob Cerny missed two gilt chances, summing up the day for the home team. A glimmer of hope surfaced when Honkanen was sent to the bin for cross-checking with just over two minutes to go. After a time out TPS reappeared with Schwarz staying put on the bench. The two man advantage allowed TPS to control the puck relatively easily but twice Timo Seppänen failed to control a simple pass back to the blue line. Eventually Ässät stole the puck and skated up ice for a relatively simple empty netter.
So 1-4 final score and whilst Pori were no great shakes, but even with the sixteenth pick in this year's NHL draft, Joel Armia, having a quiet day they were still worth the victory. While Ässät stuck to their systems, did the simple things correctly and were backstopped by a goalie who never looked in trouble, TPS make schoolboy error after another and Schwarz obviously had Saturday's defeat still on his mind.
Whilst the skill in the squad may not be enough to challenge at the top end of the table, just doing the simple things correctly should produce results. Two games into the season and the fans are already talking about a repeat of last season's miserable performance. Losing, like winning, is a habit and a good performance is needed on Tuesday when they travel to Ilves. However, this is an Ilves team who HPK failed to score against despite putting six past TPS and Ilves having conceded seven in their previous match.
TPS 1-4 Ässät
Goals - TPS: 18. Vahalahti (Anttila).
Ässät: 3. Niemi, 26. Niemi (Uusitalo), 45. Savinainen (Taimi, Kudroc), 60. Zaborsky.
Saves - Schwarz 21/23, Järvenpää 24/25.
Penalties - TPS 10. Ässät 14.
Attendance - 6121.
Other scores:HIFK 6-3 Blues
Ilves 3-0 HPK
KalPa 5-1 Tappara
Kärpät 3-2 JYP
Lukko 4-1 SaiPa
Pelicans 4-3 Jokerit (PS)
Unlike the season opener, TPS managed to survive the first eleven seconds without conceding, but the side from Pori had the better of the opening exchanges and when an inexplicable outlet pass from Huczkowsi went directly to Mika Niemi who strolled in on net and somehow forced the puck past Schwarz. 1-0 Ässät and less than three minutes played. Most of the period was disrupted by penalties, with the game struggling to flow as a result. Once things had returned to five on five TPS struck back with a nice effort. Anttila carried the puck into the zone, stopped and fired the puck toward the back post. Plihal jumped over the puck, obstructing Järvenpää and it carried through to the onrushing Vahalahti who tipped it in. Soon afterwards Stephen Dixon picked up the second of the three minors he would receive after scuffling with Toni Mäkiaho near the benches.
Whilst both teams had struggled to get a grip on the game in the first, the second was more free-flowing. TPS had got back into the game and went on the powerplay after goalscorer Niemi decided to punch someone in the face in front of the referee. TPS turned over the puck just as the penalty expired and Uusitalo fed Niemi who received the puck with just Schwarz to beat. His first touch was poor and knocked the puck too far forward. It seemed like Schwarz could easily beat Niemi to the puck and poke check it clear but instead sat back on his line, let Niemi attack him and force the puck five hole. After a long consultation to whether the puck had crossed the line the goal was given and TPS went into the break a goal behind.
The third period saw TPS dominate and at times play nice hockey, but just as the crowd were beginning to get behind them Ässät struck against the run of play. Ässät gained possession in their own zone and Tommi Taimi's wristshot snuck through the legs of Huczkowski to Savinainen who had an easy finish coming in from the right wing. The goal took the wind out of TPS's sails and you never really felt they had the cutting edge to come back from two down. As the minutes dragged on Jakob Cerny missed two gilt chances, summing up the day for the home team. A glimmer of hope surfaced when Honkanen was sent to the bin for cross-checking with just over two minutes to go. After a time out TPS reappeared with Schwarz staying put on the bench. The two man advantage allowed TPS to control the puck relatively easily but twice Timo Seppänen failed to control a simple pass back to the blue line. Eventually Ässät stole the puck and skated up ice for a relatively simple empty netter.
So 1-4 final score and whilst Pori were no great shakes, but even with the sixteenth pick in this year's NHL draft, Joel Armia, having a quiet day they were still worth the victory. While Ässät stuck to their systems, did the simple things correctly and were backstopped by a goalie who never looked in trouble, TPS make schoolboy error after another and Schwarz obviously had Saturday's defeat still on his mind.
Whilst the skill in the squad may not be enough to challenge at the top end of the table, just doing the simple things correctly should produce results. Two games into the season and the fans are already talking about a repeat of last season's miserable performance. Losing, like winning, is a habit and a good performance is needed on Tuesday when they travel to Ilves. However, this is an Ilves team who HPK failed to score against despite putting six past TPS and Ilves having conceded seven in their previous match.
TPS 1-4 Ässät
Goals - TPS: 18. Vahalahti (Anttila).
Ässät: 3. Niemi, 26. Niemi (Uusitalo), 45. Savinainen (Taimi, Kudroc), 60. Zaborsky.
Saves - Schwarz 21/23, Järvenpää 24/25.
Penalties - TPS 10. Ässät 14.
Attendance - 6121.
Other scores:HIFK 6-3 Blues
Ilves 3-0 HPK
KalPa 5-1 Tappara
Kärpät 3-2 JYP
Lukko 4-1 SaiPa
Pelicans 4-3 Jokerit (PS)
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