Ilves Mounts Stunning Comeback to Beat SaiPa 5–3

In Lappeenranta on Saturday, Ilves U20 erased a 3–0 deficit to beat SaiPa 5–3, scoring five unanswered goals. The win follows a 5–2 victory over SaiPa at Hakametsä on Oct. 17 and gives the U20s momentum before the international break.

The visitors endured a brutal first period, conceding three times. Erik Lipsanen opened the scoring after 49 seconds. Tino Rinkinen converted a power play at 5:38 and Gergely Rapos made it 3–0 at 14:26. Ilves were better in the second. A potential goal was overturned on review. At 28:15, junior prospect Eemeli Koivu, in his first U20 match, finished from a tight angle to cut the deficit to 3–1.

The third period belonged to Ilves. At 41:22, Jalmari Melanen tipped Otto Kuitunen's power-play shot home. Juho Nyberg quickly levelled the score, and the line of Melanen, Nyberg and Max Poikela then struck to give Ilves the lead. After a Gyulai save, Poikela finished into the empty net to seal the 5–3 victory. The U20 squad now heads into the international break. Their next match is at Hakametsä against Jukurit on Friday 13 November at 18:30.