After last week's game against Tappara I decided not to bother writing up a report and just putting it down to a bad day at work against a side who are no great shakes. We're eight games into the season now though, after a lengthy European Trophy pre-season and there comes a point when you can't continue to put results down to ironing out problems with a new roster and waiting for players to adjust to new systems.
The game started well last night and TPS were dominant in the opening period, with Vahalahti poking home the opener on the powerplay after reacting quickest when Virtala shoved the puck off the post. Following that it really was all TPS. The first line of Birner-Plihal-Cerny showed some lovely one touch passing and occasional individual skill, the likes of which have been almost completely absent this season. Despite the first being one way traffic it was worrying that HPK only conceded once. Tepsi have failed to control a game from start to finish and need to start converting possession into goals.
In that respect the second period was largely the opposite. Having started the period on the powerplay, HPK equalised soon after its expiry. Schwarz was by far the busier of the two goalies and it was against the run of play that TPS fired in two goals in the closing exchanges of the period. Firstly Tomas Plihal scored a lovely individual goal. Charging up the slot with his wingers advancing menacingly, he looked to pass to Birner but instead wristed a hard shot past the top right of Tolvanen. TPS have, at home at least, never looked like creating a goal out of nothing and having been goalless up until that point, Plihal needs to continue in this vein if the team are to be an offensive threat. TPS extended their lead for a second time when Marko Anttila used his size to stretch across a crowded goalmouth and somehow poke the puck goalwards. With a 3-1 lead against a HPK team who, despite long periods of possession in the second, didn't look threatening, I would imagine most in the crowd were confident of finally leaving the HK Areena with a smile on their face.
The third period was largely a turgid affair, lacking any intensity and neither side looking dangerous. However all that changed when Laamanen pulled a goal back with three and a half minutes on the clock. HPK then pushed for an equaliser, pulling Tolvanen. With the way games have been going this season it didn't seem to be much of a surprise when Scott Barney slotted home to send the game into overtime. A point dropped.
The extra session was eighty-five seconds old when TPS took a penalty for too many men. A poor penalty to take at any point in a game, let alone in overtime when momentum is against you. The penalty was defended well for the most part, but as soon as Piispanen netted his second of the night it was game over and the arena was empty within seconds. Two points dropped.
TPS were the better team in this game, had a two goal advantage with three and a half minutes left and somehow threw it away. Finding a way to lose games they are capable of winning is fast becoming a hallmark of this season. It makes you question the mental fortitude of the squad, what exactly is going through their minds and what on earth Virta is going to do about it.
The schedule has been very kind so far, only two of the eight games have been against teams in the top half of the table yet as of last night TPS have replaced HPK at the foot of it. SaiPa and Tappara were both winless before facing TPS, HPK's only other victory this season was the opener against TPS in Hämeenlinna. On Friday they travel to Pori to face a side challenging at the top end of the table. Then the following day HIFK come to town. Despite them having an out of sorts season of their own, their first line is more than enough to worry a home team defence prone to switching off and individual errors.
Worryingly the crowd was 500 down on last Tuesday's dismal display against Tappara. Fans are understandably starting to think this season will be a repeat of last and TPS need to start picking up points at home if crowds aren't to drop off even further.
Finally, the obligatory word about Rasmus Ristolainen. Only Mojzis averages more ice time than him so far this season. He certainly doesn't look like a sixteen year old rookie on the ice, and it's great to see him grab the chance he's been given. However, seeing him out in the overtime penalty kill perhaps says as much about the worrying state of the TPS roster as it does Ristolainen's obvious potential.
The game started well last night and TPS were dominant in the opening period, with Vahalahti poking home the opener on the powerplay after reacting quickest when Virtala shoved the puck off the post. Following that it really was all TPS. The first line of Birner-Plihal-Cerny showed some lovely one touch passing and occasional individual skill, the likes of which have been almost completely absent this season. Despite the first being one way traffic it was worrying that HPK only conceded once. Tepsi have failed to control a game from start to finish and need to start converting possession into goals.
In that respect the second period was largely the opposite. Having started the period on the powerplay, HPK equalised soon after its expiry. Schwarz was by far the busier of the two goalies and it was against the run of play that TPS fired in two goals in the closing exchanges of the period. Firstly Tomas Plihal scored a lovely individual goal. Charging up the slot with his wingers advancing menacingly, he looked to pass to Birner but instead wristed a hard shot past the top right of Tolvanen. TPS have, at home at least, never looked like creating a goal out of nothing and having been goalless up until that point, Plihal needs to continue in this vein if the team are to be an offensive threat. TPS extended their lead for a second time when Marko Anttila used his size to stretch across a crowded goalmouth and somehow poke the puck goalwards. With a 3-1 lead against a HPK team who, despite long periods of possession in the second, didn't look threatening, I would imagine most in the crowd were confident of finally leaving the HK Areena with a smile on their face.
The third period was largely a turgid affair, lacking any intensity and neither side looking dangerous. However all that changed when Laamanen pulled a goal back with three and a half minutes on the clock. HPK then pushed for an equaliser, pulling Tolvanen. With the way games have been going this season it didn't seem to be much of a surprise when Scott Barney slotted home to send the game into overtime. A point dropped.
The extra session was eighty-five seconds old when TPS took a penalty for too many men. A poor penalty to take at any point in a game, let alone in overtime when momentum is against you. The penalty was defended well for the most part, but as soon as Piispanen netted his second of the night it was game over and the arena was empty within seconds. Two points dropped.
TPS were the better team in this game, had a two goal advantage with three and a half minutes left and somehow threw it away. Finding a way to lose games they are capable of winning is fast becoming a hallmark of this season. It makes you question the mental fortitude of the squad, what exactly is going through their minds and what on earth Virta is going to do about it.
The schedule has been very kind so far, only two of the eight games have been against teams in the top half of the table yet as of last night TPS have replaced HPK at the foot of it. SaiPa and Tappara were both winless before facing TPS, HPK's only other victory this season was the opener against TPS in Hämeenlinna. On Friday they travel to Pori to face a side challenging at the top end of the table. Then the following day HIFK come to town. Despite them having an out of sorts season of their own, their first line is more than enough to worry a home team defence prone to switching off and individual errors.
Worryingly the crowd was 500 down on last Tuesday's dismal display against Tappara. Fans are understandably starting to think this season will be a repeat of last and TPS need to start picking up points at home if crowds aren't to drop off even further.
Finally, the obligatory word about Rasmus Ristolainen. Only Mojzis averages more ice time than him so far this season. He certainly doesn't look like a sixteen year old rookie on the ice, and it's great to see him grab the chance he's been given. However, seeing him out in the overtime penalty kill perhaps says as much about the worrying state of the TPS roster as it does Ristolainen's obvious potential.
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