Liiga Playoffs: KooKoo in driving seat after second semi-final win over SaiPa

[p]A 4-2 win in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kookoo/ljjApDE3/"]Kouvola[/a] set the tone for KooKoo in game one, and they backed that up with another two-goal victory in Lappeenranta.[/p][p]They wasted no time in stamping their authority, as just five minutes were on the clock when [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suomi-jimi/lnR8RGW8/"]Jimi Suomi[/a] travelled along the blue line before setting himself and firing the puck through traffic to break the deadlock.[/b][/p][p]Two minutes later it was 2-0 after [b]a delightful reverse pass from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/meskanen-ville/xKmHxIvN/"]Ville Meskanen[/a] found [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/miettinen-veeti/YuStjev4/"]Veeti Miettinen[/a] in space in front of the net and he finished well. [/b][/p][embed guid="f0546f57-147d-448a-9cae-4c9cb577a396" url="https://x.com/smliiga/status/2045507636783685677" social-type="twitter" /][p]The KooKoo momentum was quelled just seconds later when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davidsson-marcus/AJtjdlPL/"]Marcus Davidsson[/a] was dismissed for boarding, and though [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saipa/Q9sYH4O9/"]SaiPa[/a] failed to make use of the long powerplay, the visitors were unable to extend their lead further before the first period was over.[/p][p]But high-sticking from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bau-samu/QHRTWg79/"]Samu Bau[/a] early in period two was just the opportunity they were looking for, and despite needing two bites of the cherry, [b]Meskanen finished off the move on the powerplay to make it 3-0.[/b][/p][p]Once again, a goal was followed by a game misconduct penalty for KooKoo, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/parssinen-jiri/Q1NJkP4m/"]Jiri Parssinen[/a] was called for cross-checking, and this time SaiPa did make the most of the powerplay - albeit only when 5-on-3 after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paajanen-otto/fke4uA6C/"]Otto Paajanen[/a] was also penalised - [b]as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/airola-santari/bcdmHKu1/"]Santeri Airola[/a] pulled a goal back.[/b][/p][embed guid="9eb738e7-910d-4969-8e29-2eb7980b2335" url="https://x.com/smliiga/status/2045529987713810661" social-type="twitter" /][p]KooKoo players continued to commit fouls but held off the home side's comeback and then retook a three-goal lead late in the period, [b]again Suomi worked his magic to deke past defenders before shooting into the top corner.[/b][/p][p]Early in the third, SaiPa survived a penalty against [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salomaki-miikka/vgk8rz7M/"]Miikka Salomaki[/a] before the same player combined with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/emil-kuusla/rqxZrdAp/"]Eemil Kuusla[/a] to set up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kalapudas-antti/ruBynhXa/"]Antti Kalapudas[/a] to make it 4-2[/b], then with two minutes left, the dramatic comeback was on [b]when Salomaki continued an eventful period with a goal of his own.[/b][/p][p]But in the end, KooKoo held on for the victory, [b]which finished [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/kookoo-ljjApDE3/saipa-Q9sYH4O9/?mid=KUkIqW0C"]5-3[/a] in the end after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gallo-vilmos/phBwxZfB/"]Vilmos Gallo[/a] found the empty SaiPa net with 30 seconds to play[/b]. KooKoo have the chance to take a 3-0 lead when the teams go back to Kouvola for game three on Tuesday 21st April.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/finland/liiga/"]Follow the Liiga playoffs on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]