Liiga Playoffs: KooKoo Hold Off SaiPa Comeback for Second Straight Win

KooKoo take liiga semi-final lead after 5-3 win over SaiPa

KooKoo beat SaiPa 5-3 in Lappeenranta to take a 2-0 lead in their Liiga semi-final. Suomi scored twice, Meskanen added a powerplay goal.

Jimi Suomi’s double and Ville Meskanen’s PPG helped KooKoo go 2-0 up vs SaiPa with a 5-3 win. Game three is Tuesday in Kouvola...

 

KooKoo moved 2-0 up in their Liiga playoff semi-final series against SaiPa after a 5-3 away win over last season’s runner-up.

A 4-2 win in Kouvola set the tone for KooKoo in game one, and they followed it up with another two-goal victory in Lappeenranta.

They wasted no time asserting themselves. With just five minutes gone, Jimi Suomi worked along the blue line, set himself and fired through traffic to open the scoring.

 

It was 2-0 two minutes later when Ville Meskanen’s slick reverse pass picked out Veeti Miettinen in space in front of the net, and he finished clinically.

KooKoo’s momentum was halted seconds later when Marcus Davidsson was ejected for boarding. SaiPa couldn’t cash in on the lengthy powerplay, but the visitors also couldn’t stretch their lead before the end of the first period.

  

A high-sticking call on Samu Bau early in the second period gave KooKoo the opening they wanted. It took two attempts, but Meskanen converted on the powerplay to make it 3-0.

Once again a KooKoo goal was followed by a game misconduct, with Jiri Parssinen called for cross-checking. This time SaiPa made the powerplay count. After Otto Paajanen was also penalised to create a 5-on-3, Santeri Airola pulled one back.

🚨 KooKoo tulee ryminällä sisään! 😤

📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga pic.twitter.com/JoRQ63EVys

— Liiga (@smliiga) April 18, 2026

KooKoo kept taking penalties but held off SaiPa’s push and restored a three-goal cushion late in the period. Suomi again produced the magic, deking past defenders before sniping top corner.

 

Early in the third, SaiPa killed off a penalty on Miikka Salomaki before he linked up with Eemil Kuusla to set up Antti Kalapudas for 4-2. With two minutes left, a dramatic comeback looked on when Salomaki capped an eventful period with a goal of his own.

 

🗣️ SUOMII!

Jimi Suomi taituroi jo illan toisensa! 😮‍💨

📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga pic.twitter.com/ZzGb1b0zTh

— Liiga (@smliiga) April 18, 2026

In the end KooKoo held on for the win, finishing 5-3 after Vilmos Gallo hit the empty net with 30 seconds left. KooKoo can go 3-0 up when the series returns to Kouvola for game three on Tuesday, 21 April.