The result suggested that only one team was up for the battle for the consolation prize, but that didn't seem to be the case after 20 minutes, as Emil Kuusla's second-minute opener for SaiPa was cancelled out seven minutes later by Jarrko Parikka.
The score remained 1-1 until the midpoint of the match, but the second half was completely one-sided in favour of the home side, who retook the lead 11 minutes into the second through Henri Nikkanen, just seconds after Ilves were back at full strength after Peter Quenneville was called for holding.
Samu Bau added a third three minutes later, then Kuusla scored his second of the game unassisted to put the Lappeenranta side 4-1 up going into the final 20 minutes.
Tripping by Miikka Salomaki fueled Ilves comeback hopes, as Matic Torok pulled one back in the third minute of period three, but that was merely a hiccup in the SaiPa dominance, as Antti Kalapudas and Niklas Appelgren quickly added two more before Miro Tauslahti completed the 7-2 rout five minutes from time.
SaiPa add the bronze medals to the silvers they won last season, while a fourth-place finish is also one place down on last year for Ilves. With three goals and 12 assists, Kalapudas' 15 points is currently the highest total in the Liiga playoffs with the finals to come.
Tappara host KooKoo in game one of the finals on Saturday 2nd April.