Kiekko-Espoo vs Tappara

Tappara started the brighter side, generating quality chances through sustained zone time in the opening ten minutes. Kiekko-Espoo goalkeeper Sami Rajaniemi made several early stops before his defence settled into the game.

First period — 17:12: Iikka Kangasniemi (1-0, PP)

Jere Sallinen won the face-off cleanly after Michael Lindqvist was called for holding at 17:07. Kangasniemi collected the puck in the slot and wired a wrist shot past Christian Heljanko just five seconds into the power play — a clinical finish that gave the hosts the lead at the first intermission.

Third period — 55:11: Lukas Svejkovsky (2-0)

With Tappara pressing after a disallowed goal — Joachim Blichfeld had the puck in the net on the power play but it was waved off for goaltender interference on Aapeli Räsänen — Svejkovsky stole the puck, drove into the offensive zone and beat Heljanko with a wrist shot from the right circle to double the lead.

Rajaniemi was then called upon repeatedly as Tappara pulled Heljanko for an extra attacker with 2:26 remaining. The Espoo netminder held firm through a frantic finish.

Blichfeld's disallowed goal at 51:06 proved decisive. Tappara had finally beaten Rajaniemi on the power play — Blichfeld's shot from the face-off dot appeared to find the net — but referee adjudged Aapeli Räsänen had impeded the goaltender's ability to make the save. The goal was waved off immediately. Five minutes later, Svejkovsky made it 2-0 at the other end, and Tappara never recovered.

Sami Rajaniemi (Kiekko-Espoo) — Player of the Match — The veteran goaltender stopped all 31 shots he faced (10 in the first, 10 in the second, 11 in the third), including a penalty-shot save against Joachim Blichfeld at 42:29 after Eeli Salovaara threw his stick in a defensive play. Rajaniemi's rebound control and positioning were flawless throughout.

Iikka Kangasniemi (Kiekko-Espoo) — Scored the opening goal on the power play in the 17th minute. Combined well with Jere Sallinen on a face-off set play that Tappara's penalty kill couldn't adjust to.

Christian Heljanko (Tappara) — Made 26 saves from 28 shots (9+11+6), keeping Tappara in the game during a tight second period where Kiekko-Espoo controlled extended offensive shifts. Could do little on either goal.

Lukas Svejkovsky (Kiekko-Espoo) — Scored the insurance marker at 55:11 and also drew the game's first penalty (hooking, 8:56). A two-way presence across 16+ minutes of ice time.

The shot count — Kiekko-Espoo 28, Tappara 31 — reflects a game where Tappara generated volume but not quality in the danger areas. Espoo's 2-for-5 power-play conversion (40%) was the statistical separator: they scored once on their first opportunity (Kangasniemi at 17:12) and created multiple looks on subsequent man advantages despite not converting again. Tappara finished 0-for-3 with the man advantage despite controlling possession during most of their power-play time, and their 8–10 penalty minute differential (5 infractions to Espoo's 3) cost them rhythm in a tight second period.

Rajaniemi's 31-save shutout — his first pre-season clean sheet — underlines Kiekko-Espoo's depth in net, where Petteri Rimpinen also waits as a capable backup.

For Kiekko-Espoo, the result provides an ideal start to a pre-season schedule that continues against Linköpings HC (SHL) on 19 August, followed by Pelicans (21 August) and a two-game set with Växjö Lakers (26–27 August). The Liiga regular season opens on 1 September against KalPa at Metro Areena.

Tappara — Liiga's defending champion after winning the 2025–26 title — suffered their first pre-season defeat following Tampere Cup games against Ilves and JYP. Their next friendly is away to Jokerit in Vantaa on 19 August, with the final pre-season home fixture against Kärpät on 27 August. Liiga action begins in early September.

A disciplined, defensively sound performance from Kiekko-Espoo in their first pre-season outing. Rajaniemi's goaltending was the headline, but the power-play execution and structure without the puck suggest Espoo's summer additions — particularly Jere Sallinen and Connor Corcoran — are integrating quickly. Tappara will be unconcerned by a pre-season blanking; they created enough chances to score on another night, and the disallowed goal changes the complexion entirely.

Match played 14 August 2026 at Varuboden Areena, Kirkkonummi. Attendance not officially published.