Liiga Playoffs: Super SaiPa shutout KooKoo to level semi-final in fourth game

[p]Two two-goal wins had put [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kookoo/ljjApDE3/"]KooKoo[/a] in control of the series, but a 4-2 win last time out and tonight's shutout success has seen [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saipa/Q9sYH4O9/"]SaiPa[/a] completely change the dynamic of the best-of-seven showdown.[/p][p]It took the home side time to adjust the balance of power in game four - the first 20 minutes remained goalless despite both sides having a powerplay opportunity, though the signs were there for SaiPa, as they had 15 shots on goal to KooKoo's seven.[/p][p]The opening period still had a strong bearing on the game, as with four seconds left, the visitors' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/makela-manu/nVumwtRL/"]Manu Makela[/a] was called for tripping.[/p][p]Starting period two with an extra man allowed SaiPa to stretch the opponents defence, a key reason for [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/siikanen-patrik/WSqBQ3gC/"]Patrik Siikanen[/a] having time and space to score on the left wing[/b] after being picked out by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kalapudas-antti/ruBynhXa/"]Antti Kalapudas[/a].[/p][embed guid="9567b13b-eb88-41f0-847c-b2184341a115" url="https://x.com/smliiga/status/2047724717914694106" social-type="twitter" /][p]Siikanen was then called for high-sticking seconds later, but the Kouvola side failed to make an instant response, which was costly late in the period,[b] when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bau-samu/QHRTWg79/"]Samu Bau[/a] raced into the KooKoo zone and beat the goaltender at the near post[/b] to double the lead.[/p][p]SaiPa went into defensive mode in the third period, as KooKoo mustered only seven attempts on goal and [b]failed to find a way past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piiroinen-kari/6Jysy89D/"]Kari Piiroinen[/a], who made 22 saves[/b] in all to complete a playoff shutout. [/p][p]The Lappeenranta side then finished the game off [b]with an empty-net goal from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nikkanen-henri/Yyf8s1nJ/"]Henri Nikkanen[/a] in the final three minutes[/b], as Kalapudas and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kivenmaki-otto/t2HFF6jD/"]Otto Kivenmaki[/a] earned a second assist each and SaiPa completed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/kookoo-ljjApDE3/saipa-Q9sYH4O9/?mid=rLrZ1DGt"]the 3-0 win[/a]. The series lead is on the line in game five in Kouvola on Saturday 25th.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/finland/liiga/"]Follow the Liiga semi-finals on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]