Liiga Playoffs: Tappara, KooKoo Take 3-2 Series Leads With Game 5 Wins

Tappara beat Ilves in OT

Tappara beat Ilves 2-1 in OT to lead 3-2 after trailing 2-0 in the series. KooKoo shut out SaiPa 4-0 to also go up 3-2. Both can clinch finals spots Monday April 27th.

Eetu Randelin made 27 saves in KooKoo’s 4-0 win over SaiPa. Tappara erased a 2-0 series deficit to lead Ilves 3-2 after an OT win. Both are one win from the finals...

Tappara have come from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in their Liiga playoff semi-final against rivals Ilves. Meanwhile, KooKoo went ahead again in their best-of-seven with SaiPa thanks to a shutout win.

Ilves opened the Tampere derby series with one narrow win and one dominant victory. Tappara answered with one tight win and one convincing win of their own to level the series.

Game 5 would decide the series lead, but neither side broke through in the first 40 minutes. Ilves failed to convert on three power plays to Tappara’s one, including a brief 5-on-3. Tappara held a slight edge in shots, 16-14.

The deadlock finally broke nearly nine minutes into the third period. The Battle Axe charged toward Ilves’ goal before Jesper Mattila’s shot was saved. Henrik Haapala picked up the rebound and fired it into the net.

Two more power play chances came and went for Ilves. Ironically, they were most effective a man down. After John Nyberg was called for cross-checking, Simon Johansson scored on a rebound. He equalized shorthanded with 97 seconds to play.

That sent the game to overtime. The designated visitors couldn’t use the momentum from the late equalizer. Instead, Tappara won it 2-1 six minutes in. Kristian Tanus deflected in Aleksi Matinmikko’s shot from the blue line.

The regular season champions are now one win from the finals. Their first chance to clinch comes Monday the 27th in front of Ilves’ fans.

KooKoo are also one win from contesting the Kanada-malja. They went up 3-2 in the series by thrashing SaiPa 4-0 at home. That came just 24 hours after a 3-0 shutout loss in Lappeenranta.

The wait for the opening goal was much shorter in Kouvola. Kalle Loponen’s one-timer from the blue line took a slight deflection off Miska Siikonen’s stick before beating the SaiPa netminder.

Tempers boiled over early. Twice in the first 20 minutes, a player from each side was penalized for fighting. It was still a one-goal game after 40 minutes. Neither team converted a power play chance each in period two.

🚨 TANUS OHJAA RATKAISUN 💥

Finaalipaikka katkolla @Tapparaofficial:ille maanantaina!

📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga pic.twitter.com/kUdB4qVBP6

— Liiga (@smliiga) April 25, 2026

But KooKoo converted five minutes into the third period. After Miikka Salomaki was called for slashing, the home side won the face-off. The puck worked back to Jiri Parssinen, whose shot flew into the top corner.

The second seeds all but put the game away six minutes from time. Ari Grondahl’s shot was saved, but Ossi-Petteri Jaakola reacted quickest to the rebound and buried the follow-up.

KooKoo wrapped things up with just over a minute to play. Robert Rooba scored into an empty net to complete the win. That gives them a chance to clinch the series in Game 6, also set for Monday the 27th in Lappeenranta.

🚨 Ossi-Petteri Jaakola lakaisee irtokiekosta KooKoon illan kolmannen! 💪

📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga pic.twitter.com/XFQTzX95wF

— Liiga (@smliiga) April 25, 2026

It was a memorable night for Eetu Randelin. He made 27 saves to record his second shutout of the 2026 playoffs.