While Sittler’s line has been shut down by Jarvis, except on the power play, the Leafs’ checking line has done the same to Lemaire, Lafleur, and Shutt, giving the Leafs enormous confidence. For it was here that they worried they would be badly outmatched. But now that each shift that passes that shows they aren’t, an excited feeling builds and spreads among their players – they now think they can play with us. The quality of the game improves, and the Leafs begin to take over. Suddenly, Napier intercepts a clearing pass and scores. Thirty seconds later, his linemate Hughes does the same. The effect is crushing. – - – They have stopped the Lemaire line, they have made our defense look ordinary. But within thirty seconds, two players they didn’t know would play have put them out of the game. At this moment, the Leafs players, those on the bench and those on the ice, are saying to themselves, ”There’s no way we can ever beat this team”.
- Ken Dryden: The Game
I know, Erä is no Montreal Canadiens, Nokian KrP is no Toronto Maple Leafs and this is no NHL in the 70’s.
But some patterns never change in sports. There are good teams and there are underdogs who suddenly stand up and shake the good teams but get beaten in the end because the good teams have the bredth and the routine.
With two games in the quarter-finals, Erä now has two wins against Nokia. One in penalty shootout, one in overtime. Talk about thrillers. Game three at 1830 on Friday in Mosahalli.
The Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.
We don’t know where Erä or Nokia will end up this year. Because the series is still undecided. In Tapanila, they hope that the analogy holds.
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