Club Friendly· Season 2026
Jokerit defeated Tappara 4-3 in a penalty shootout in a Club Friendly pre-season match at Tikkurilan jäähalli, capped by Maxime Fortier's late equaliser at 56:25.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The first period passed without a goal. Jokerit goalkeeper Olle Eriksson Ek and Tappara's Juha Metsola traded saves in a tight, tactical frame heavy on special teams — Eetu Tuulola (Jokerit, tripping, 8:20) and Joni Tuulola (Tappara, interference, 19:55) each took minor penalties.
Jokerit broke the deadlock 2:52 into the second period. Henri Nikkanen fired home from close range with Miks Tumanovs providing the primary assist, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead the teams carried into the second intermission.
The third period began with Tappara on the front foot. At 41:13, with Jokerit's Henri Nikkanen serving a hooking minor, veteran defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka equalised on a 5-on-3 power play, Aapeli Räsänen drawing the assist — 1–1.
Jokerit responded swiftly. At 45:48, Jere Henriksson rifled home a power-play goal of his own, with Alexander Forslund and Oliver Suni setting him up to restore the lead at 2–1.
Tappara then flipped the script in a devastating 21-second sequence. Oliver Suvanto tucked home a feed from Michael Lindqvist and Kasper Simontaival at 55:48 to make it 2–2. Just 21 seconds later at 56:09, Simontaival swept in Lindqvist's second assist of the shift to give Tappara a 3–2 lead.
Jokerit refused to fold. With the home crowd roaring, Maxime Fortier crashed the net to convert Aleksi Elorinne's point shot rebound at 56:25, knotting the game at 3–3 and sending the contest to overtime.
The 3v3 overtime period produced chances but no goals. Tappara's Henrik Haapala took a delay-of-game penalty at 64:37, but Jokerit could not convert the abbreviated power play. The match moved to a shootout, where Jokerit scored once and Tappara was held scoreless, delivering the hosts a 4–3 victory.
The Turning Point
Fortier's equaliser at 56:25. Tappara had seized momentum with two goals in 21 seconds to flip a 2–1 deficit into a 3–2 lead. If Jokerit had conceded a fourth, the game likely ends in regulation. Instead, Fortier's determination at the net-front — finishing a scramble off Elorinne's shot — reset the game and allowed Jokerit to regroup for overtime and ultimately the shootout.
Key Performers
Maxime Fortier (Jokerit) — Scored the game-tying goal at 56:25 to force overtime. The Canadian forward, acquired from SaiPa in the off-season, showed the net-front presence that made him Jokerit's marquee summer signing. Man of the match.
Jere Henriksson (Jokerit) — Continued his dominant pre-season with a power-play goal at 45:48. The former Tappara man entered the match as Jokerit's preseason scoring leader (2+2 in two games) and added another crucial tally.
Kasper Simontaival (Tappara) — Changed the game with a goal and an assist in a 21-second span, turning a 2–1 deficit into a 3–2 lead. His quick hands in tight created the window for Tappara to seize control.
Michael Lindqvist (Tappara) — The Swedish winger, Tappara's pre-season points leader entering the match (2+0), added two primary assists on Suvanto's and Simontaival's third-period goals.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The stat line tells a story of two distinct phases. Through 40 minutes, this was a tight defensive contest — one goal, few high-danger chances. The third period flipped entirely: six goals in 13 minutes, with both teams trading blows on special teams and in open play. Jokerit's power play went 1-for-5 (20%), Tappara's went 1-for-4 (25%). Penalty minutes were close (8 for Jokerit, 10 for Tappara), but two of Tappara's minors came in the final 15 minutes, contributing to the chaotic swing. The shootout — scoreless through three Tappara attempts — underscored how evenly matched the sides were at even strength after regulation.
What It Means
For Jokerit, returning to Liiga this season after winning Mestis in 2025–26, this was their final home pre-season fixture before the regular season begins on 1 September. They carry a 4–2 pre-season record (including Pitsiturnaus and Marski Cup) into next week. Their final warm-up is at TPS on 25 August.
For Tappara, the four-time champions in five seasons, this was their fourth pre-season outing. Their record stands at 1–3 (won vs Ilves OT, lost to JYP, lost to Kiekko-Espoo, lost to Jokerit SO). They face Kärpät on 27 August before starting their Liiga title defence.
Verdict
A pre-season game that had no business being this entertaining delivered precisely that. Jokerit's resilience in the face of a 3–2 deficit with under four minutes left suggests a Liiga team that will not roll over in its return season. Tappara's third-period burst showed the champion's pulse, but the inability to close out will be a focus before the real games begin.
Match Events
Jokerit and Tappara have met 30 times — Jokerit won 15, Tappara won 15, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. A combined 156 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.20 per match (82 for the home side, 74 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 27 matches (90%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 30 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 6–3 in 2011.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 20 Aug 2026