Liiga: Assat Climb To Second, JYP Win First Home Game Of Season

Jan Bednar made 29 saves to shut out KalPa and secure Assat's 1-0 victory

A single goal was enough for Assat to go second in the Liiga, as JYP edged Lukko in a shootout on their return home and TPS Turku beat IFK Helsinki.

Assat up to second in Liiga with narrow win as JYP and TPS win shootouts...

A single goal at KalPa was enough to lift Assat to second place in the Liiga table, while JYP defeated Lukko in their first home game of the season after arena renovations, and TPS Turku also secured a shootout victory over IFK Helsinki.

With a top-four spot up for grabs, JYP and Lukko met in the first game of the season in Jyvaskyla, where the hosts edged a 3-2 win on penalties for only their second victory in five games, while sixth-placed Lukko have now lost two of their last three.

Arttu Valila twice gave the visitors the lead, but JYP responded on both occasions through Eetu Peltola and Valtteri Ojantakanen to force overtime. The extra period produced no goals, yet Ojantakanen still had time to emerge as the hero, scoring the only goal of the shootout to secure the points for JYP.

🚨 Hyvää kannattaa odottaa 🌪️ Eetu Peltola lataa @JYPJyvaskyla:n ensimmäisen kotimaalin tähän kauteen! 💥 📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga https://t.co/7f4f4RyXH0

— Liiga (@smliiga) October 14, 2026

Assat moved up to second place, just one point behind Ilves, after a 1-0 victory over KalPa in Kuopio. The Pori side have now won three of their last four matches, while KalPa have suffered four consecutive defeats and are staying out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.

The hosts had the better of the chances, registering 10 more shots on goal than Assat's 19, but Jan Bednar kept out everything KalPa created, with Kasper Bjorkqvist netting the game's only goal on a powerplay four minutes into the third period.

Jan Bednář nollaa KalPan Kuopiossa! 💪🚫 #Liiga https://t.co/32CJ58lYRh

— Liiga (@smliiga) October 14, 2026

IFK Helsinki moved a point clear of the relegation zone, but it could have been more after suffering a 4-3 shootout defeat to TPS Turku. TPS climbed to 10th with two wins in three games, while inconsistent HIFK rose to 13th.

The home side appeared set for victory after Daniel Makiaho and Lassi Vanhatalo scored on either side of the first intermission to make it 2-0, only for Otto Paajanen, Kasper Pikkarainen and Lukas Wernblom to turn the game around with 10 minutes remaining. There was still time for Makiaho to equalise, but after a scoreless overtime, he failed to convert in the shootout where Pikkarainen was the only successful taker.

🚨 @HCTPS rankaisee haparoinnista! Kasper Pikkarainen tuo vieraat tasoihin 💪 📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga https://t.co/zQa0yogpLX

— Liiga (@smliiga) October 14, 2026