Floorball’s terrible dynasty can collapse tonight – the Oilers’ number one joker is on fire in such a way that the expert can’t remember anything like it: “Incredible flight”

Tampere Classic has won the men’s floorball league championship six times in a row from the 2015-2016 season. In the spring of 2020, the playoffs were not played due to the coronavirus pandemic, but even then Classic managed to win the regular season.

This season, Classic finished fourth in the regular season. It was the weakest performance since 2009 fifth place. Nokian KrP won the F-League regular season for the first time.

When playing Classic, compared to last seasons, we saw a rare number of problems, for example in defense. Tampere’s winter was rough. Key players, for example Mikko Leikkanen, Nico Salin and Eemeli Salin were on the sidelines for a significant part of the games.

However, Classic struggled for its first place until the final round of the regular season, and the team was considered a clear advance favorite for the quarterfinals.

Even fewer believed, going into the playoffs, that the seasoned champion team could be after three games with a 0-3 loss against the Oilers from Espoo.

The Oilers’ number one offense is on fire

Classic’s head coach Juha Kivilehto points out that the matches have been even.

– Now we have moved to the cup system, result or out.

The Oilers have won 7–6 in overtime, 6–4 (the last shot on an empty net) and 7–4 (the last two on an empty net).

– The guy has one really hot five, world-class players who are in really good shape, says Kivilehto.

That is indeed true. About the Oilers’ number one point guard Aaro Astala has scored 7+7 in three quarter-finals, Justus Kainulainen 7+2 and Heikki Iiskola 4+2.

The power stat of the entire field is +16, including defenders Matias Veikkola (1+6) and Antti Suomela (1+1).

Astala, 26, was one of the key players of another Espoo club, the Indians, for years, but switched to a neighboring club this season. Strong, sharp and reaching, the 195-centimeter Astala also got to play in her first adult World Cup in December.

In the regular season, Astala was 12th in the points market, with 24+25=49 performances in 27 games. In the semifinals, he has had the hottest shoulder in the F-League.

Floor bandy expert known from Ruutu+ and Urheilu broadcasts Toni Lötjönen states that he does not remember anything similar.

– Of course, even during the dynasty times of Classic and SSV, the first courts have been dominant. But now it is even more emphasized, because the Oilers’ second and third courts have zero pieces on the board, not a single 5vs5 goal in the playoffs, Lötjönen wonders.

Despite this, the Oilers’ first court has also been on the ball less than the opponent, Lötjönen continues.

– It took more than 130 minutes on the Oilers’ first court to allow the first goal in the 5vs5 game. An incredible flight. Games with a small margin, but in Classic, the first-ranked players are not in such a condition. When we remember what condition the Classic is in Sami Johansson was a couple of years ago – did every place. Now the Oilers’ first court is in such form.

In the 2020–21 season, Johansson set a point record for the floorball league playoffs: 31+18=49 in 16 matches. That’s 3.1 points per game. Astala has now scored 4.7 points per match, but this comparison after three quarter-final matches is of course far too early.

Dynasty this and that

A dynasty on hiatus. That’s the theme. For example, the F-League headlined after the latest Oilers win your results story (you switch to another service): “Classic’s dynasty on the brink of collapse”.

Does this cause extra pressure?

– I don’t see it as extra pressure. Pressure, or whatever you call it, is always present in competitive sports, Kivilehto answered.

Is this good for the sport, what we see now in the quarterfinals? Is it cheering if a dynasty ends?

Lötjönen himself played as SSV’s goalkeeper in the late 2000s. SSV won five championships from 2007 to 2011. After that, SPV won the championship in three out of four seasons and Happee once before Classic’s dynasty.

– In some sense, outside of the sport, it might seem boring that “yikes, there’s one champion favorite”. On the other hand, all dynasties have taken the sport much further and raised the bar higher, Lötjönen reminds.

– Invigorating or not, I can’t think like that. When playing best of seven, there are few surprises. If someone is a dynasty and wins year after year, that’s enough for me to see them do things better. The game will show who is the best, and it will win these series, reads the line of the expert.

Defender legend Kivilehto, now 41, won four World Cup gold medals and nine domestic championships in his playing career. Last season, Classic surprised the Oilers in the middle of the regular season game when it announced that Kivilehto is the team’s next head coach.

Even last season, Kivilehto celebrated the Finnish championship as a player on the back lines of Classic and then replaced the head coach on the pitch Samu Kuitunen – from the player’s field directly to the head coach.

Read also: Floorball legend Juha Kivilehto ends his playing career this season – takes over as Classic’s head coach: “I hope for excitement again”

If you miss the quarterfinals in your first season as a head coach, how big of a disappointment is that personally?

– I haven’t thought about that. I’m thinking about how we’re going to turn this series around. I can’t see the moment when we drop from this series yet.

Can Classic make history?

Toni Lötjönen gave Classic a small chance to turn the match series around. That would be historic.

– In the floorball league, there has never been a move on from a 0–3 situation, and it has never been thought to move on from a 0–2 situation either.

– It doesn’t seem very likely, but Classic, if anyone, can do it. The pain is certainly hard for Classic now, but the routine is also so hard that it will not be easy for the Oilers to end the series.

The Classic hasn’t been very good against the Oilers. However, in Lötjönen’s opinion, Classic has been lagging above all because of its own, consistent basic performance.

– The ball game is weak, problems in defense. They are playing well below their level, but have still been able to stay in the game against the Oilers.

Head coach Kivilehto stated that his team has gifted the opponent goal plots with its ball-making. The Oilers have not succumbed to the same.

– We have to work really hard for one goal.