TPS, who is playing against his back to the wall, is in a tough place when he should win the fifth match of the final series at Tappara ax home in Tampere.
TPS has been in a playoff spring in Tampere. In the semi-finals, the people of Turku managed to win one game against Ilves in the away team. In the final series, no victories have yet come from Tampere. The championship would require two victories in the “Mans”.
TPS head coach Jussi Ahokka However, according to Tampere, it is not a particularly difficult place for the people of Turku.
– I do not feel that Tampere is in any way an awkward place for us. Nice hall. It’s nice to be there to play.
Ahokas is also not taking any more pressure from Tappara’s 3-1 match wins and TPS’s tight situation.
– One win at a time. These have all been tough goal games. Now you have to take the win. In the playoffs, it does not matter in what order the winnings are taken. As long as it takes four wins.
In the history of the Finnish Championships, the playoffs have only risen from 0–3 to win the match series. It was done by the Espoo Blues in the spring of 2012, when the team passed KalPa in the semi-finals. There has never been such a miracle in the finals.
The coach calls for efficiency at the finish line
TPS has suffered from inefficiency in the final series, especially in the superiority game. Tepsi have scored one goal in each of these matches. Tappara has taken ten penalties in the finals, but TPS has only put the puck to the finish line once by force. TPS has taken six cools, of which Tappara has managed to vaccinate three times.
Ahokas calls for special situations and efficiency in and at the finish line. He estimates that the game will become unimaginable, as in previous finals.
– The fighting and defense game must also be at a very good level.
Defender Eemil Viro is on the sidelines. He has jumped in his place in the playoffs Aleksi Anttalainen, who has played three playoffs. Anttalainen was injured in October and underwent knee surgery. He receives praise from Ahokka.
– He’s got in well after a long injury. We have been satisfied.