Kärpät – Blues 5:1 (end) | Lukko – TPS 2:1 (1:0 after SO) | Skellefteå – Davos 1:4 (end)
Frölunda – Luleå 6:4 (3:1 after SO)
after shootout (1:0)
Lukko Rauma
2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 0:1 - 0:0)
TPS Turku
Tuesday 08.12.2015, 17:30 • Kivikylän Areena • Champions League
     
    It´s official, LUKKO advances to CHL semi-finals against Kärpät! TPS gave one great fight but Lukko came out stronger throughout the game.
     
    Game over.
    70:00 Asplund (RAU)
     
    70:00
    Lukko Rauma has won after the penalty shoot-out.
    TURO ASPLUND is the hero tonight!
     
    5. series
    1:0
    Spina fails.
     
    5. series
    1:0
    Lahti fails.
     
    4. series
    1:0
    Zapolski saves with the left shoulder
     
    4. series
    1:0
    Ashland scored over Setänen´s right shoulder.
     
    3. series
    0:0
    Zapolski is on the ice but the puck misses the net by inches
     
    3. series
    0:0
    No room in between the legs by Vahalahti.
     
    2. series
    0:0
    Wrister way off the net
     
    2. series
    0:0
    Dangles but puck went away
     
    1. series
    0:0
    Downlow shutdown by Zapolski
     
    1. series
    0:0
    Backhand saved by Setänen
     
    Start of shootout.
     
    The winner of this game is facing Finnish team Kärpät in the semi-final. Kärpät won their series against Blues with the total aggregate 5-3 (0-2, 5-1).
     
    Shots on goal in overtime: Lukko: 8 (43 total), TPS: 2 (27)
     
    No goals in overtime. Semi-finalist is decided on shootout.
     
    70:00
    Overtime finished.
     
    69:11
    TPS gets their offense game on, Lukko defense looses the puck. Kumeliauskas shoots, Zapolski freezes. Faceoff Lukko´s end
     
    68:31
    This has been Lukko´s overtime, fair and square. Ahonen yet again shoots from the butter zone but somehow Setänen gets his glove on the way. Faceoff TPS end and TPS takes a timeout.
     
    66:52
    Pikkarainen on a breakaway but an EXCELLENT play by Niskala on poking the puck away. Faceoff TPS end
     
    66:07
    Ahonen and Asplund on the move but TPS intercepts the pass. TPS is forced to icing.
     
    64:44
    Nummelin shoots a surprisingly difficult shot, Zapolski screens but the puck hits the glove. Game on TPS end and a faceoff.
     
    63:44
    TPS offside.
     
    63:12
    Lukko is coming up strong, shot after shot but Setänen stands! Game still on TPS end
     
    61:34
    Teams on even strength
     
    61:34
    Oh right, TPS has a man shy, Kumeliauskas´s penalty still on. Score board not showing the penalty
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    10 minute overtime is on it´s way. We continue the game 4on4.
     
    Shots on goal in 3rd: Lukko: 7 (35 total), TPS: 14 (25)
     
    Game continues in a minute
     
    3rd period over. This one is decided in overtime
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    59:40
    ...And Virtanen Jo. breaks another stick from the following faceoff.
     
    59:33
    2 broken sticks, three diving players and a shot. That ends up in the crowd from TPS defenseman. Whoa, what a finish in 3rd... Faceoff TPS end
     
    59:09
    OH MY GOODNESS! Gagnon finds Nurmi on wiiiide open ice but HE MISSES FROM 2 METERS. Oh my. Faceoff TPS end
     
    58:19
    Now it gets interesting. TPS is forced to minor penalty after Lukko´s 1st line´s pressure.
     
    58:19
    Tadas Kumeliauskas, TPS, 2 minutes for holding
     
    57:33
    Jesse Virtanen tries ye-Old-Timey around the net but Setänen closes, TPS defense clears the net from Lukko players. Faceoff TPS end
     
    56:43
    Nieminen carries the puck over blue line and releases a wrister, Zapolski saves with a glove and freezes. Power break.
     
    56:20
    Some TPS fans here in Rauma. And they´re loud.
    55:36 Tikkanen (RAU)
     
    55:36
    Goal for TPS!
    HARRI TIKKANEN shoots the puck top shelf after a weird puck-bouncing episode. Now the luck has turned. No assists. (aggregate score 4-4)
     
    55:15
    TPS has the puck,
     
    53:52
    Lahti checks Vainiola on open-ice, no crime there.
     
    52:06
    Lähde wipes the snow off the puck when Lähteenmäki serves a perfect saucer to the net. Game on Lukko´s end
     
    50:53
    Offside TPS. Lukko defense in some sort of trouble on own end, passing pretty chaotic.
     
    50:36
    Jaatinen roughs up Spina on the boards but no penalty there
     
    50:06
    Teams on even strength
     
    50:00
    TPS has two excellent scoring changes from Virtanen Jo.´s passes but this time luck is on Lukko´s side. Zapolski freezes. Faceoff.
     
    49:13
    TPS PP squad makes good efforts but Zapolski closes yet again. Faceoff Lukko´s end
     
    48:45
    Kallio whips one from a small angle, Zapolski makes an easy glove save. Faceoff Lukko´s end
     
    48:05
    Ville Vahalahti, Lukko, 2 minutes for holding
     
    47:24
    TPS has kicked up their game up a notch. After some corner-rumble Lukko clears .TPS regroups. Penalty coming up
     
    45:46
    Experiencing some networking issues, please be patient if the blog is not updating regurarly
     
    Vahalahti steals the puck and sends Koivisto on loose but is not able to score from a minor breakaway! Faceoff TPS end
     
    43:15
    TPS has a fresh 5 men attack but it ends up in offside.
     
    42:42
    Koivisto shoots but the game is whistled down, Gagnon is on the goal grease. Neutral zone faceoff
     
    42:25
    Pikkarainen rushes to the net after Zapolski´s save. Brookbank defenses his goalie with manly manouvers. Faceoff Lukko´s end
     
    41:34
    Tallinder shoots from the blue line but Zapolski freezes, no mask in between the goalie and the puck. Faceoff Lukko´s end
     
    41:09
    Asplund shoots, Lahti covers the sight but Setänen closes. Faceoff TPS end
     
    40:55
    Game whistled down. Center ice faceoff
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    TPS has the scoring power, no doubt about it but tonight their main problem has been in puck control and consistent offensive play. We've seen some highlights from Perrin, Spina and Kumeliauskas but right now TPS needs to perform as a team to keep up with the hosts.
     
    3 minutes to go in the 2nd intermission. The stats are truly on Lukko´s side but when has the game of hockey been decided on stats? Yeap, never.
     
    Shots on goal in 2nd: Lukko: 17 (28 total), TPS: 3 (11)
     
    Koivisto shoots wide in the last second but TPS is saved by the bell. 2nd intermission begins with 1-0 (aggregate 4-3).
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:47
    Kallio´s genious pass almost reaches Perrin but the pass is too long.
     
    39:17
    Offside Lukko. TPS is desperately seeking for the tying goal
     
    38:13
    Replay or live play? Vahalahti serves Gagnon from the same side behind the net, but this time defenseman is on time. Setänen freezes, faceoff TPS end
     
    37:44
    Lukko offside.
     
    36:40
    Asplund almost scores back-to-back from a rebound but Setänen has this one covered. Few minutes to go in 2nd.
    35:52 Ville VAHALAHTI - 1:0
     
    35:52
    Goal for Lukko!
    VILLE VAHALAHTI receives a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L pass behind the net from Koivisto and has all the time in the world putting the puck behing Setänen. Assisted by Toni Koivisto and Turo Asplund (aggregate score 4-3)
     
    35:07
    Virtanen Jo. finally clears the puck from TPS end. TPS tries to build up a rush but ends up in an icing. Power break.
     
    33:33
    Dangerous plays by Lukko´s 2nd line but TPS holds. Another rush coming.
     
    32:10
    Spina almost capitalizes Lukko defense fumbling but Zapolski is on it. Game to TPS end now.
     
    30:50
    TPS intercepts Lukko offense passing, Perrin receives a nice pass but the shot ends up in the crowd from Lukko´s stick. Faceoff Lukko´s end
     
    30:29
    Suuronen shoots from a small angle, Setänen blocks. Puck stays on play but TPS clears for an icing after a few scoring attempts.
     
    29:33
    Offside TPS.
     
    28:51
    Setänen freezes, faceoff TPS end
     
    28:33
    Ahtola forces himself towards the net but Lukko defense denies with some questionable stickwork.
     
    28:01
    Vahalahti, Jaatinen, Vahalahti, shots keep on coming but Setänen holds. TPS freezes, faceoff.
     
    27:21
    Icing TPS. Lukko´s powerful start wearing off slowly.
     
    27:09
    Offside Lukko. Power break.
     
    26:43
    TPS builds up some offensive moves for a change but has trouble delivering the puck in front of the net.
     
    26:00
    Icing Lukko
     
    25:06
    Vahalahti passes nicely to Koivisto on net but the shot went straight to Setänen. Puck still on play, Kumeliauskas tried to dangle Zapolski on a breakaway but looses puck in the end
     
    24:41
    Puck over the glass, faceoff neutral zone.
     
    23:46
    TPS defense is looking tired, the first 4 minutes has been a total Lukko´s show
     
    22:45
    Koivisto dances around TPS defense, shoots but Setänen blocks the puck back to play. Lukko still has the edge
     
    22:16
    Nurmi has tough luck and wipes off the puck from Brookbank´s weak wrister. TPS forced to icing, faceoff TPS end
     
    21:10
    Piitulainen misses rebound, Ahonen shoots but TPS defense is tight on the center. Game still on TPS end
     
    20:49
    Gagnon to Piitulainen across the ice but puck goes wide. Lukko on another rush
     
    20:12
    Vahalahti shoots over Setänen´s net. Lukko in control right from the beginning
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    2nd period starts in 2 minutes. Score being tied we are still looking for that opening goal. Bright side is that the attendance is pretty good tonight
     
    Shots on goal in 1st: Lukko: 11, TPS: 8.
     
    Will the 2nd be Spina-show or Gagnon-carnivale? Because these guys are on FIRE!
     
    1st period over, still scoreless tie 0-0 (total score 3-3).
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:37
    TPS offside.
     
    19:10
    Teams on even strength
     
    18:10
    Tikkanen´s shot 4on4 almost catches Zapolski by surprise but the puck goes narrowly wide. Game on Lukko´s end
     
    17:43
    Game whistled down. Neutral zone faceoff
     
    17:10
    Teemu Nurmi, Lukko, 2 minutes for slashing
     
    17:10
    Petteri Nummelin, TPS, 2 minutes for roughing
     
    17:10
    Suuronen carries, Ahonen shoots from the line but where´s the puck? Ref whistles the game down, Nummelin and Nurmi are sent to the box for fighting
     
    16:28
    Spina steals the puck behind Lukko´s net, lifts over the net from a meter. Lukko has the puck.
     
    16:06
    Virtanen Je.´s shot reflects from a stick and a skate but Setänen has the view on the puck. Faceoff TPS end
     
    15:55
    Icing TPS.
     
    15:11
    Gagnon has an open net but TPS defense keeps the Canuck in line by grasping on, no penalty, this time...
     
    14:51
    Raffle on Zapolski´s net ends in cover-up. Faceoff Lukko's end
     
    14:14
    Koivisto to Lahti to Sipiläinen but puck too close to the net and Setänen pokes the puck away. Game on Lukko´s end
     
    12:55
    Ahtola and a fiery shot from the point, hits Zapolski on the shoulder and then to the post! Puck reflects over the glass, faceoff Lukko's end. Power break
     
    11:45
    Suuronen & Nurmi duo close to scoring from point blank but TPS clears. Nurmi receives a nasty hit in front of Lukko bench, no penalties. TPS in control
     
    11:16
    Koivisto carries and snaps a quick wrister but Setänen denies with a glove. Beauty. Faceoff TPS end
     
    11:00
    Puck over the glass on Lukko´s end. Faceoff.
     
    10:01
    Zapolski freezes after some ineffective dangles, TPS offense shows dramatic dives but refs are not responding. Faceoff Lukko's end
     
    09:31
    Virtanen Jo. carries the puck to Lukko´s end, TPS in control. Not getting on net though
     
    08:39
    TPS CRAMO TopScorer Spina blasts a shot from the point without any mask, Zapolski easily saves and freezes for a faceoff
     
    08:07
    Gagnon shoots yet again from the blue line, Setänen forced to freeze. Faceoff TPS end
     
    07:51
    Perrin with a dangerous shot down low left, Zapolski denies with the pad. TPS has a slight upper-hand at the moment. Zapolski freezes a weak dump from the neutral zone, power break.
     
    06:40
    Teams on even strength
     
    06:00
    Siiki almost breaks away shorthanded, referee on the way this time
     
    05:21
    Virtanen Je. with a low shot behind mask, no score and TPS clears. Lukko regroups for another attack
     
    04:34
    Tomi Kallio, TPS, 2 minutes for interference
     
    04:11
    Energetic start here in Kivikylä Areena! First icing to Lukko, faceoff
     
    03:00
    TPS 1st line was given the socoring opportunity on a silver plate but offense misses the net from inches on goal.
     
    02:23
    Piitulainen serves, Gagnon shoots from the point but straight to Setänen´s lap. Faceoff TPS end
     
    02:01
    Kumeliauskas with the first TPS shot, puck reflects to the crowd from Lukko defense. Offside.
     
    00:45
    First shots delivered to TPS net. Lukko´s 3rd line in control
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Lukko benches their trusted stand-in goalie Rinne, Antti Karjalainen dresses tonight.

    TPS goalie Teemu Lassila suffers from suspension and therefore is not attending tonight
     
    Other CHL quarter-finals tonight:

    Kärpät – Blues (0-2 before tonight´s match)
    HC Davos – Skellefteå (1-1)
    Luleå – Frölunda (3-2)
     
    7 minutes to go...
     
    CRAMO Top Scorers tonight:

    Lukko: Toni Koivisto (5+5)
    TPS: Dave Spina (3+7)
     
    Starting lineups:

    Lukko Rauma: Zapolski (Karjalainen) – Jaatinen, Virtanen Je., Ahonen, Niskala, Mikkola, Brookbank, Tommila, Hyvärinen – Gagnon, Piitulainen, Vahalahti – Asplund, Koivisto, Lahti – Lähteenmäki, Suuronen, Nurmi – Lähde, Riska, Sipiläinen. Head coach: Risto Dufva

    TPS Turku: Setänen (Georgiev) – Nummelin, Tallinder, Keskitalo, Tikkanen, Kojo, Eronen – Perrin, Ahtola, Kallio – Spina, Pikkarainen, Vainiola – Kumeliauskas, Virta, Vähätalo – Virtanen Jo., Siiki, Nieminen, Karvonen, Moisio. Head coach: Ari-Pekka Selin

    Referees: Björk, Sjöberg (both SWE) – Suominen, Hägerström (both FIN).
     
    Welcome aboard to live blog on the deciding quarter-final match between Lukko and TPS! The puck hits the ice in about an hour and the build-up towards this game here in Rauma has been good: last week Lukko´s captain Ilkka Mikkola posted a video on social media appealing to home fans to come show their full support on the "most important match this season yet". When the distance between the cities are only about a 100 km, we are hoping to see (and hear) some fierce cheering from TPS fans also!
     
    Lukko Rauma vs. TPS Turku (3-3), Kivikylän Areena, 17:30

    It's 'winner takes all' in Rauma, with Lukko and TPS tied going in to tonight's second leg. Two late goals in last week's match saw TPS draw level with their opponents, although Lukko will not be forgetting that the were 3-1 up in that game and seemingly in control before the home side's fightback.

    "We were leading 3–1 in the end and then TPS got the score even," Lukko assistant coach Juho Vuori summed up last week's game. "Lately we have been having trouble scoring but in this game we were able to get to the net ato put the puck in so in that sense it was a good performance – we just need to keep in mind that this game is the deciding one."
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Timo Similä

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 36. Vahalahti (Koivisto, Asplund), dec. goal Asplund – 56. Tikkanen

    Shootout:

    1. series:
    0:0   Koivisto (RAU)
    0:0   Perrin (TPS)
    2. series:
    0:0   Gagnon (RAU)
    0:0   Nummelin (TPS)
    3. series:
    0:0   Vahalahti (RAU)
    0:0   Kumeliauskas (TPS)
    4. series:
    1:0   Asplund (RAU)
    1:0   Kallio (TPS)
    5. series:
    1:0   Lahti (RAU)
    1:0   Spina (TPS)

    Lukko Rauma: Zapolski (Karjalainen) – Jaatinen, Virtanen Je., Ahonen, Niskala, Mikkola, Brookbank, Tommila, Hyvärinen – Gagnon, Piitulainen, Vahalahti – Asplund, Koivisto, Lahti – Lähteenmäki, Suuronen, Nurmi – Lähde, Riska, Sipiläinen.

    Head coach: Risto Dufva
    TPS Turku: Setänen (Georgiev) – Nummelin, Tallinder, Keskitalo, Tikkanen, Kojo, Eronen – Perrin, Ahtola, Kallio – Spina, Pikkarainen, Vainiola – Kumeliauskas, Virta, Vähätalo – Virtanen Jo., Siiki, Nieminen, Karvonen, Moisio.

    Head coach: Ari-Pekka Selin
    Referees: Björk, Sjöberg (both SWE) – Suominen, Hägerström (both FIN)