First period decisive in Helsinki

Jokerit Helsinki – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 4:1 (2:0, 0:0, 2:1)

Goals: 9. Lajunen (Kozun), 14. Olimb (Huhtala), 57. Kapanen (Jaakola, kozun), 59. Jensen (Kozun, Lajunen) – 51. Kašpar (Nagy, Barker)

Lineups:
Jokerit: Karlsson – Ohtamaa, Lajunen, Larsen, Jensen, Korpikari, Jaakola – Huhtala, Olimb, Jormakka – Kozun, Hagman, Regin – Aaltonen, Kapanen, Sallinen – Rita, Wirtanen, Joensuu
HC SLOVAN: Brust – Barker, Novák, Starosta, Švarný, Mihalik, Sersen (A), Luža – Kašpar, Nedorost, Miklík – Jeglič, Tičar, Nagy (A) – Šťastný, Surový (C), Bartovič – Skalický, Viedenský, Lušňák

The opening stages of Slovan's fourth away game saw some evenly-matched hockey, with little in the way of chances for either side. The hosts worked to gradually take the initiative, but came up against a good Slovan defence, only threatening Brust from afar. Half-way through the period, the Finns occupied the attacking zone, and a touch on Lajunen's shot put the in the lead - 1:0. A minute later, Wirtanen put in a cross-shot from the right circle, and Brust only just kept it out. In the 14th minute, Slovan mishandled a move from their own zone and allowed Olim in to score - 2:0.

Slovan tried to claw their way back into the game in the middle period, but none of Tičar, Nagy or Švarný could make it count. An overlap looked promising for the hosts in the 25th minute, but Vladimír Mihalik made a telling tackle at the last minute. The Sky Blues won their first powerplay as late as the 28th minute, but could make nothing of it, nor could Jeglič when faced with an open goal soon after. Similarly unsuccessful was Milan Bartovič, whose shot found Karlsson's mitt on the half-hour mark. The Swede also used the mitt in pulling off a fine save to deny Kašpara on the backhand near the period end.

HC SLOVAN contunued their upward trend in the third period, forcing their way in front of goal more often. Promising chances fell to Švarný and Miklík, while Patrik Luža fired just wide. Jensen nearly added another for the hosts on a break in the 46th minute, but ended up taking the puck beyond the net. Říha's team finally got on the scoresheet from a powerplay in the 51st. Barker sent the puck to Nagy, who shot on goal. The rebound fell to Kašpar, and he slotted home - 2:1. Jokerit then stemmed the tide of Slovan pressure, and sealed the victory in a powerplay of their own, Nikko Kapanen scoring in the 56th - 3:1. The Hartwall Arena witnessed a fourth for the hosts a minute from time, Jensen being the scorer - 4:1.

Miloš Říha: We lost the game in the first period. We started badly, lacked concentration, made pointless errors. The second period was markedly better; we skated and competed, and the game looked totally different. Unfortunately we didn't score from the chances we created. Our goal in the third period put us in touch, but then a needless foul took away our chances of an equaliser. I think Jokerit deserved the win today.