The Vaxjo Lakers got the necessary one-goal win on home ice to force overtime, then got a goal from Erik Josefsson to advance to the Quarter-Finals. Read more in Gamecentre. 

by Steven Ellis

The second contest required overtime, but the Vaxjo Lakers were able to take the two-game series against SaiPa Lappeenranta by a score of 6-5 thanks to a 4-2 overtime victory on Tuesday.

Heading into the game, SaiPa had a simple goal: win. With a one goal advantage heading into the final game of the Round of 16, they just needed to stay in charge to keep their lead and move into the round of eight.

It took just 7:55 in the first for SaiPa to score the first goal of the game. It was a goal that Victor Andren would want back as Tomi Leivo would rush into the zone and fire a weak shot from a tough angle, a shot that goaltenders typically have no issue with. Unfortunately for Andren, the puck bounced right off his glove and into the net behind him, giving SaiPa the 1-0 lead in the game and 4-2 lead overall.

Vaxjo was the much more dangerous team with the puck, but former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jussi Markkanen was strong. They did, however, score on their 23rd shot of the game. At 21:04 in the game, Robert Rosen tipped in a shot from Philip Holm, beating Markkanen up high with the re-direction from the slot to make it 1-1 in the game.

Vaxjo would tie the aggregate score up at two apiece after a loose scramble in front. Olli Palola would be the last player to touch the puck after it slid under Markkanen and on to the Vaxjo’s skater’s stick, making it 2-2.

But SaiPa would bounce back shortly after. At 31:13, with the penalty to Dennis Everberg dying out, Tomi Leivo found himself on the breakaway and made a quick move to beat Andren, giving SaiPa the 5-4 lead overall.

Markkanen was simply tremendous for SaiPa when needed, and he had to be after eight minutes of play in the third complete. Rosen had a good chance after stealing the puck in coming in all alone, but Markkanen made two huge saves, including a big globe save on the goal line, to keep it a tied hockey game.

But Rosen wouldn’t be stopped again. With under five minutes to go in the game, Rosen’s slap shot went through traffic and beat Markkanen for the 3-2 goal with time running out, the goal that tied the series overall. 

Despite Vaxjo taking the victory after 60 minutes, it didn’t matter overall. 

With both teams tied at five goals each after 120 minutes of play, the two teams would have to decide the winner in sudden-death overtime in hopes of taking the game. At 69:11, Erik Josefsson put an end to Markkanen’s great 49-save performance by scoring a breakaway goal in overtime, giving Vaxjo the come from behind victory after losing the opening contest.

“We played well, defended well, killed penalties,” said SaiPa head coach Riku Kallioniemi, “but we made a couple big mistakes.”