Kärpät Oulu have a two-goal lead heading into the second leg of their eighth-final series with the Vienna Capitals. However, as of Monday it was uncertain whether or not their captain, defenceman Lasse Kukkonen, would be able to play after suffering an eye injury in a recent game.
by David Mičke
OULU – Kärpät Oulu controlled the entire first game of their series against the Vienna Capitals, scoring twice and out-shooting the Austrian club 17–7 in the first, and eventually won without any major complication.
With a two-goal advantage, their situation looks good heading into the second game in Vienna. However, they may have to play without team captain Lasse Kukkonen, who took a puck under his eye during a recent Finnish Liiga game. With stitches under his left eye and wearing a full facemask he attended practice on Monday morning in Oulu but wasn’t sure about playing in Tuesday night's game.
“We are checking my status all the time and we have to take it one day at a time,” the veteran defenceman and 2011 World Champion said. “I am hoping to play tomorrow but I cannot say for sure yet.”
Even without their leader, a draw in Vienna or even a one-goal defeat would be enough for Kärpät to advance to the quarter-finals of Champions Hockey League. The whole team knows, however, that this won't be an easy task, based on Vienna's play through the group stage and the tough battle they put up in Oulu last week.
“The first game was really tough and evenly played,” said Joonas Donskoi, who recorded six points in the group stage and added two more in the first playoff game. “It is gonna be a big battle – a lot different in their home rink. Their game is pretty balanced, they play as a tight unit all over the ice. It was pretty much a North American style – everything goes straight to the net, just a simple game. I don't think Vienna have any major weaknesses.”
Without Kukkonen, Kärpät will be especially relying on Donskoi in the game at both ends of the rink. “I hope I score a goal but we have to start with defence.”