Club Friendly· Season 2026
SaiPa defeated Jukurit 5-1 in their final pre-season friendly at Kisapuisto. Klintrup scored shorthanded, Salomäki on the powerplay, before Zabaneh, Svensk and Siikanen sealed it in the third.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
SaiPa struck first through Eemeli Klintrup, who opened the scoring shorthanded with an assist from Juuso Heikkilä. The shorthanded marker — denoted AV in the official match report — was a promising sign for a penalty kill that had been breached in the Marski Cup final defeat to Jokerit on 15 August.
Jukurit responded before the first intermission to level at 1–1, but the home side regained control in the second period. Miikka Salomäki converted on the powerplay (YV), finishing a setup from Emanuelsson and Intonen to make it 2–1 by the 40-minute mark.
At the second intermission, SaiPa held a 15–12 shot advantage (Piiroinen 7+5=12 saves for SaiPa, Myrenberg 8+8=16 for Jukurit), according to the official SaiPa match updates. Gustavs Grigals replaced Piiroinen in goal for the third period.
Third-period surge
The floodgates opened in the final frame. Zabaneh extended the lead to 3–1 off a feed from Perttu, Svensk added a fourth, and Siikanen completed the scoring with a fifth goal assisted by Trejbal.
Grigals faced only three shots in the third period and stopped them all, giving SaiPa a combined goaltending line of 15 saves from 16 shots.
The turning point: Special teams efficiency
SaiPa scored both shorthanded and on the powerplay — two special-teams goals in a single pre-season game after managing none in their first two friendlies. Salomäki's powerplay goal restored the lead early in the second period and Jukurit never recovered. The 2–1 scoreline at the second break masked SaiPa's territorial control; the third-period explosion (three goals) reflected the scoreboard pressure that had been building.
Key performers
- Eemeli Klintrup (SaiPa): Scored the opening goal shorthanded to set the tone. Named player of the match.
- Miikka Salomäki (SaiPa): Delivered the go-ahead goal on the powerplay — the decisive moment of the contest.
- Piiroinen (SaiPa): Made 12 saves over two periods, keeping SaiPa level after Jukurit's equaliser.
- Zabaneh, Svensk, Siikanen (SaiPa): Three different scorers in the third period, showcasing depth.
By the numbers
SaiPa's five goals came from five different scorers, with two special-teams tallies (one shorthanded, one powerplay). The period-by-period progression shows a team that grew into the game: tied after one, leading by one after two, dominant in the third. The combined goaltending save percentage of 93.8% (15/16) was the best of SaiPa's pre-season.
What it means
SaiPa complete their pre-season with two wins from three friendlies (3–2 vs JYP, 1–7 vs Jokerit, 5–1 vs Jukurit). SaiPa played the fewest friendlies of any Liiga team this pre-season — only three — as noted by Jatkoaika and SaiPa's own website. Their Liiga campaign opens on Tuesday 1 September at home against Tappara at Kisapuisto.
Jukurit finished pre-season with a 3–3 record from six friendlies, having won three in a row before this defeat. They also begin their Liiga season on 1 September.
Verdict
SaiPa saved their sharpest pre-season performance for last. A shorthanded opener, a powerplay winner, and five different scorers suggest a team finding form at the right time ahead of the Liiga opener against Tappara.
Match details: Club Friendly | 27 August 2026 | Kisapuisto, Lappeenranta | Kickoff 18:00 EEST | Attendance: not published
Match Events
SaiPa and Jukurit have met 49 times — SaiPa won 25, Jukurit won 24, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2012. SaiPa leads the head-to-head with 25 victories from 49 meetings. A combined 228 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 4.65 per match (113 for the home side, 115 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 41 matches (84%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 44 games (90%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. SaiPa are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 4–5 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 28 Aug 2026