In its first appearance at the 93rd Spengler Cup on Friday afternoon TPS Turku upset Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4-3. The Finns decided the game in the second period with three goals within 257 seconds. Now Turku will battle Ambri-Piotta for top spot in Group Torriani on Saturday afternoon.

TPS Turku, currently sitting at the bottom of the standings in the Finnish league, showed itself from its best side in front of the sell-out crowd of 6300 at Eisstadion Davos. The Finns set a high pace right from the start. Their play was organized and with plenty of drive towards Ufa’s net. 15 minutes into the game the Scandinavians had outshot the opposition 11-3, though the score remained tied at 1-1. Oskari Lehtinen had put the Turku up on their first powerplay (6.) and Eduard Gimatow evened the score on his rebound goal (15.).
That the score remained a 1-1 tie to that point was primarily thanks to Salavat’s netminder Vladimir Sochatsky. Then the 30-year-old also had some good fortune on his side. On Turku’s second man-advantage the post saved Sochatsky twice. After that the Russians caved in. Within 257 seconds Aleksi Anttalainen with a well-placed long-distance shot, Tony Sound on a “volley”, and Ilari Filppula on the rebound gave their team a comfortable 4-1 lead. The Russians showed morale and character in the third period. Stanislaw Garajew made it 4-2 (56.) and 31 seconds before the end of regulation Rodin Amirow cut the deficit to one to bring some excitement back into the game. But even with the empty net the Russians were not able to level the score.
The situation is now straightforward. Turku and Ambri will go head-to-head for top spot in Group Torriani on Saturday afternoon (puck drop at 3pm local time). Salavat Yulaev Ufa, on the other hand, was again unable to live up to their reputation following the 4-1 loss to Ambri-Piotta. The Russians lacked the necessary drive for too long. They also rested three of their top forwards in Linus Omark, Alexander Burmistrow, and Nikita Soschnikow. However, based on the tournament mode the Russians still have a shot at the Spengler Cup title despite their two losses in the group stage. On Sunday Ufa will face the second-placed team of HCD’s group in the quarterfinal.

TPS Turku – Salavat Ufa 4-3 (1-1, 3-0, 0-2)

Eisstadion Davos. – Attendance 6300 (sold out). – Referees Hebeisen/Salonen (SUI/FIN), Nikulainen/Schlegel (FIN/SUI).
Scoring: 6. Lehtinen (Parssinen, Holm/penalty Zuligin) 1-0. 13. Gimatow (Kartajew, Zuligin) 1-1. 31. Anttalainen (Korpikoski, Filppula) 2-1. 33. Sund (Nurmi) 3-1. 36. Filppula (Windlert, Korpikoski) 4-1. 4:2. Garejew 4-2. 60. (59:29) Amirow (Zuligin, Baranow) 4-3 (Ufa empty-netted).

Penalties: 1 minor on Turku, 4 minors on Ufa.

Turku: Tirronen; Piskula, Anttalainen; Larsson, Sund; Olsson, Windlert; Viro; Budish, Filppula, Korpikoski; Lehtinen, Wirtanen, Suoranta; Nurmi, Parssinen, Pajuniemi; Holm, Kuru, Janatuinen; Karvonen.

Ufa: Sochatski; Sergejew, Koledow; Zuligin, Lisowez; Muchamadullin, Garejew; Petrischew; Soloduchin, Majorow, Tschewetschenko; Kartajew, Baschkirow, Gimatow; Pimenow, Amirow, Lukin; Pustozerow, Kuzmin, Baranow.
Notes: Ufa without Omark, Burmistrow and Soschnikow (all rested). – Crossbar: 18. Windlert. 28. Pajuniemi. – Post: 29. Lehtinen. – Ufa empty-netted from 59:06 to 59:29 and from 59:35.

Text: Spengler Cup-Online  Foto: Keystone