After their long winning run was put to the sword by Tappara last time out, Lukko were looking to bounce back at the other Tampere club, with Ilves' inconsistent form cause for optimism. But their hopes were dashed in the first 24 minutes of the game.
Simon Johansson set up Jens Looke for the home side's opening goal in the fourth minute, before the same pair combined for Samuli Rantinen to double the lead with a minute to go in the first period.
Four minutes into the second, Johansson was at it again, registering his third point of the match with an assist for Peter Quenneville to put Ilves 3-0 ahead.
The Lynx's inconsistency seemed to be returning when Eric Gelinas pulled a goal back four minutes later, and then they were in for a nervy final 15 minutes when Jakob Stenqvist made it a one-goal game, but Ilves held on to win 3-2 and climb to fifth with back-to-back victories.
Pelicans were unable to drop out of the top 12 last night, but there are now just four points between themselves and the chasing pack after they were humbled by Karpat, losing 5-0 at home. Benjamin Pietila scored twice and Nikla Rubin made 29 saves as the Oulu side made it two wins in a row.
Karpat are 14th, and sandwiched between them and the Lahti side are Hameenlinna, who ended a three-match losing run by beating Vaasan Sport 4-0. Anrei Hakulinen picked up two points and Kim Saarinen made just 15 saves to earn a shutout, as Sport lost for the 11th match in a row.