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Ilves finish Regular Season undefeated, third straight loss for Zurich
(Photo: Anssi Takala)
  • Ilves finish first phase with sixth win in six games
  • Swiss left licking their wounds with third straight loss
  • Ilves secured Regular Season Winners crown
(Photo: Anssi Takala)
(Photo: Anssi Takala)
(Photo: Anssi Takala)
(Photo: Anssi Takala)
(Photo: Anssi Takala)
(Photo: Anssi Takala)

Roope Taponen got the nod to man the crease for Ilves Tampere as the Finns took down ZSC Lions Zurich 4-1 with Taponen playing on another level once again, stopping 31 of 32 shots, while Matias Mäntykivi netted two on the night and Matic Török secured the game-winning goal. The sixth win in six games for the Finns secured them the Regular Season Winners crown as they now advance to the Playoffs from top spot.

Neither side managed to alter the scoreboard after 20 minutes as both Taponen and Šimon Hrubec were perfect. The Finns' netminder halted all six shots and the Swiss side's denied five of five to keep the game scoreless.

In the second, though, it was Mäntykivi on a 5-on-3 man-advantage with a sneaky tuck top shelf stick side to register his first goal and fifth point of the tournament. Mäntykivi received the puck down near the red line, made it look like he was passing it before wiring it home.

Ilves continued to hem their opponents in the offensive zone while simultaneously suffocating Zurich's offence, rarely giving them any chances. When they did eventually let the Swiss slip by it was either the goaltender or the goal post preventing the visitors from finding the equaliser. 

Not for nothing, Zurich did their best to battle back but a second and third tally, courtesy of Matic Török and Mäntykivi, respectively, coupled with a stingy Ilves defence led to the Swiss side's third-straight defeat.

Andy Andreoff gave the Swiss a souvenir before the buzzer but then Ilves found the net a fourth time when Eemil Laurell scored a second empty-netter for the hosts, who finished the Regular Season undefeated.

 
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