Defeats to Vaasan Sport and Lukko had derailed Ilves' great start and only the poor form of those around them had kept them top, but a 3-0 win at Jokerit put them back on track and two points clear, while the newly-promoted side stay 16th after failing to build on their Helsinki derby victory.
Topi Hynninen broke the deadlock in the final seconds of the opening period, though Ilves had to wait until six minutes into period two to build on that, as Tony Sund struck before Luke Henman added an empty-net goal in the last minute. Mantas Armalis saved all of the 16 shots on goal Jokerit produced.
Jukurit had twice failed to take advantage of Ilves' slip-ups thanks to losses to Assat and KooKoo, but a 2-1 win in overtime over fourth-placed Karpat proved their good form hasn't deserted them, while the Oulu side's last four matches have all gone to overtime, resulting in two wins and two defeats.
Another defeat was on the cards for the Mikkeli side when Jiri Tichacek gave Karpat a second-period lead, but not only did Linus Sjodin equalise three minutes from time, but Jukurit completed the turnaround when Alex Lintuniemi found the net in the second minute of OT.
Responding well to their defeat in the derby were IFK Helsinki, who climbed out of the bottom three with a thumping 6-1 win over KalPa. It's two wins in three for the capital side, while the team from Kuopio have lost three on the bounce and remain three points outside the postseason places.
Goals from Niko Huuhtanen and Ilari Melart for the hosts and one from Aleksi Klemetti gave HIFK a narrow lead going into the third period, but any nerves were quickly forgotten when Eetu Liukas and Lassi Vanhatalo scored in the first two minutes, before HIFK added the finishing touches with Liukas' second and one from Iiro Pakarinen.
The division's two sides with the best form sit in ninth and tenth, respectively, on four wins in a row. The first is Tappara, who needed penalties to keep their run going against TPS Turku, for whom the 4-3 defeat is their third loss in four as they sit 11th.
TPS led 2-1 after one period as Lukas Wernblom and Lars Bryggman scored either side of an Aapeli Rasanen goal for Tappara, who were level five minutes into the second through Joni Tuulola. Bryggman put the away side back in front before the period was out, but early penalties in the third allowed Kasper Simontaival to level again and send the match to overtime. After no goals there, Rasanen was the only player to score in the shootout, handing Tappara another victory.
Also on four wins in their last four are Hameenlinna, who got the better of KooKoo 5-3 to match Tappara in taking 10 points from those four matches. KooKoo remain on four points all season after not building on their win against Jukurit last time out.
Olli Korhonen's opener was met by Ari Grondahl's equaliser in the first period, but KooKoo had no response when Olli Palola gave HPK the lead again late in the second, as Korhonen extended it early in the third when shorthanded. Ville Meskanen and Oskari Luoto both scored in the final 12 minutes as KooKoo put up a fight, but those strikes were met by goals from Ethan de Jong and Roope Vesterinen as Hameenlinna kept their opponents at arm's length late on.