From these starting points to the NHL’s dizzying Finnish final – under Ville Nieminen’s almost wordless encounter between the “two professors”

will show two games from the NHL conference finals this weekend. On the night between Saturday and Sunday at 03:00, the second game of the series between Carolina and Florida will be shown.

On Sunday evening at 22:00, it’s the second half of Vegas and Dallas. Both matches will be broadcast live on TV2 and Areena.

In the NHL, the Eastern Conference final series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers begins in Carolina’s home arena in Raleigh, Finnish time, on the night before Friday.

As many as eight Finns are aiming for a spot in the Stanley Cup finals in that match series. We went through the starting points through the Finnish players.

Sebastian Aho, Carolina (11 games in the playoffs, 5+5=10, +5)

Sebastian Aho has run a strong basic play clinic in the playoffs. The score balance is not enough for the bow, but with five against five, the Canes’ number one forward has won his games 9–3 and even the dangerous goal posts by 56%. However, now comes a challenge of a whole new level.

You have to play a lot Alexander Barkov against at least in away matches, which raises the bar to a record high for this spring.

Carolina has also found decisive power behind the first chain, but still this is Sebastian Aho’s team. Aho doesn’t pull the gap or steal into the attack, which can be seen in the points balance, but now the resistance is such that we need more Snaps in the attacking direction as well. Had surprising difficulties in starts (44%).

– There has been so much talk about Barkov and Aho that I can’t even say anything here. Now there is such a situation that you have to let the game show. There can be no more amazing situation than this, when there are two professors facing each other, a JYP coach who has played 385 NHL games in his career Ville Nieminen anneal.

Teuvo Teräväinen, Carolina (2, 0+0=0, +2)

Teuvo Teräväinen recovered surprisingly quickly from a hand injury sustained in the opening round and may well already play in Friday’s opening match. It’s a really difficult regular season below, but he would be a big addition to the team when he returns – certainly mentally as well. Profiles strongly as a player in big games, so is a real wild card in the starting series.

– Teuvo’s return brings a boost to the team. Teuvo himself wants to show that he belongs to that puzzle. He’s been there for many years building that puzzle and it’s a tough season ahead. Now he can get on a moving train, so there is charging in the back, Nieminen reflects.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Carolina (11, 3+3=6)

Jesperi Kotkaniemi played a strong New Jersey series, being in the center of events, when the Devils were pushed to the canvas. He is only 22 years old, but Pori’s quality of character comes out in the best way precisely in the playoff world. Is responsible, can operate on the puck, but also doesn’t miss using the advantage brought by his big size.

Kotkaniemi and its chains will also face a huge challenge in the starting series. Will Barkov’s meet or Matthew Tkachuk chain, we don’t know that, but the challenge is just as tough. Kotkaniemi is still one of those who must be able to bring to the table also a hard numerical result.

Like Aho, I had difficulties with the beginnings. So far, the percentage is only 37.

– Kotkaniemi did well in the New Jersey series by skating and playing in the lower season. Now there will be more blatant going, struggling and all kinds of putting up with. In the previous series, he was fine with the game, but now you also have to be alert for all kinds of surprises. So let’s talk about physicality and fighting, says Nieminen.

Jesse Puljujärvi, Carolina (7, 0+1=1, -3)

Jesse Puljujärvi kicks hard, tackles, exploits and grinds, but right now nothing is coming from the puck game. You can see from all the football activities that self-confidence has already fallen to the negative side.

Courage and determination with the puck is completely missing. In this respect, the game must have been lost for this season. After a nightmarish season, Puljujärvi needs a total reset in the summer.

Hardly fit into a lineup that plays often.

– Pulju is ready if the invitation goes, Nieminen summed up.

Antti Raanta, Carolina (2.59 GAA, 90.6%)

Antti Raanta is basically the second keeper in the series, a Danish squire by Frederik Andersen being primarily responsible.

Aleksander Barkov, Florida (12, 2+7=9, +3)

Overall, Barkov has not been at his best yet. The mouth of the ketchup bottle still has a small blockage in terms of power. On the other hand, in terms of playing defense and blacking out the opponent’s top chains, the Tampere player has put up a great performance throughout the spring.

Boston’s The Perfection Line stopped first, followed by Toronto’s superstars. Toronto’s top players didn’t even score a goal against Barkov in a draw.

Now it falls to Barkov to stop Carolina’s number one chain, i.e. stopping Aho.

– It is the mark of a top player to find ways to help his own team and at the same time destroy the opponent’s game. He played with the cards he had in hand. That’s the wisdom of playing. Through this, his profile and character also broadens. Now we really start to recognize who the best defensive attacker is, Nieminen praises.

Barkov (48%) has also struggled with starting. Tehoja Nieminen is waiting for more.

– He has been exceptionally ineffective, so there is still room to twist the connecting rod in terms of power. It is even to be expected that it will happen.

Eetu Luostarinen, Florida (12, 2+3=5, +3)

The Finnish sensation of the season has continued his brilliance in the playoffs. Eetu Luostarinen forms an excellently functioning triple chain together by Sam Reinhart and by Anton Lundell with. The trio has won their games 5-on-5 4-1 and controlled 58% of dangerous scoring opportunities.

Luostarinen is a really smart two-way center forward who has mostly played on the wing in the current three-center chain. Kuopiolainen’s personal number of goals in the first sector is 59 percent. The read is the second-best among Florida forwards.

Anton Lundell, Florida (12, 1+6=7)

Unbelievably mature behavior from a 21-year-old NHL player in his second season. Lundell plays the game correctly and always, so to speak, from the right side of the puck. No sneaking into the attack or fishing for points. The triple chain of Lundell, Luostarinen and Reinhart is a key factor in Florida’s fairytale spring.

The trio also offers Carolina a tough challenge with their voracious play.

– These guys have a great hair game intelligence. We are talking about really skilled players who are good specifically at playing. There are three responsible centers there and it makes it much easier for them to play. Luostarinen has come with bright eyes to play an open-minded game. He is a copy player from Lundell, Nieminen sees.

In the most recent episode of Ika änär Ismo Lehkonen told which teams will advance to the finals. In Finnish terms, the setting is exceptionally delicious. The “all means allowed” type of game has reared its head again, when a nasty one-match ban was given for a nasty slash. All Ika änäri episodes from Areena from this link.

will show two games from the NHL conference finals this weekend. On the night between Saturday and Sunday at 03:00 Carolina–Florida and on Sunday evening at 22:00 Vegas–Dallas.