Thanks to a 31-save shutout from Eero Kilpalainen, KalPa Kuopio lead Djurgarden Stockholm by two goals after the first leg. Read more in Gamecentre. 

by Jakob Meijer

KalPa Kupio outsmarted Djurgarden Stockholm at home in the first leg of the Round of 32. Thanks to solid defence and, especially, excellent goaltending, KalPa now have a great chance advancing in their first CHL playoff appearance after winning 2-0.

“They were very strong,” said KalPa coach Pekka Virta. “We were in trouble from time to time, no doubt about it, so keeping that in mind we are very satisfied with the score.”

When KalPa, with one of the best penalty kills in the tournament (88.89%), and Djurgarden, with the second best power play (40%), faced off in Kupio Tuesday night, it was not a big surprise that special teams would have an impact on the outcome of the game.

With a little help from his skate, Alexander Ruutu gave KalPa the lead in the middle of the first period after a brilliant pass by Jusso Riikkola. Just minutes later the same Rikkola got a breakaway, but this time Djurgarden goalie Mikael Tellqvist had no problem making the save.

Djurgarden had their chances, but KalPa goalie Eero Kilpelainen was like a wall, saving a total of 31 shots.

After a goalless second period, where both teams struggled on the power play, things heated up in the third act.

With four minutes left, Djurgarden got a man advantage, but once again KalPa neutralized the Swedes in the D-zone. Instead of a Djurgarden goal, Matias Myttynen, with only 13 seconds left of the game, rushed past two opponents and with a backhand sent the puck into the top shelf.

"I think it was a tough, even game. KalPa won by two, but the game was tougher than that. We could have also won by two goals," said a disappointed Djurgarden coach Robert Ohlsson after the game.

“Being two goals ahead going to Stockholm next week is definitely much better than trailing by two,” Virta understated. “Djurgarden will come out even stronger and we must play much better than we did today. We must show our dominance right away in Stockholm, since in this game we were kind of inspectors for some parts of the game and gave the opponent too much space to execute their gameplan. We must be stronger, bolder and more confident next Tuesday.”