Tappara is one victory away from the Finnish ice hockey championship. Urheilu’s expert Topi Nättinen does not yet crown the team from Tampere as Finnish champions.
Puhe’s Jääkiekkierros closely follows the SM league finals. You can listen to Thursday’s fifth final on Puhe from 18:10. The match starts at 18:30.
Tappara, annoyed at their home arena on Saturday, was very strong in the fourth final, when they beat Pelicans in Lahti with 3–1 goals. The people of Tampere can decide the Finnish championship on Thursday in Tampere.
Although Tappara played perhaps his most intact match of the finals, Urheilu’s expert did not Top Nättinen feel like the series is over.
According to Nättinen, the series is far from over. He reminds us that the Pelicans have been at their best during the season when they have played with their backs against the wall.
– The last time they were in Tampere, their backs were a bit against the wall, but now they really are. It feels like the Pelicans are at their best in such moments this season, says Nättinen.
How does Tappara react?
Nättinen also reminds that the team from Lahti, which took a 4–1 victory over Tampere on Saturday, has a good memory of the Tampere arena. The match was the best and most intact of the series for the Pelicans.
The Pelicans haven’t been bad in other matches either.
– If a few sleepovers had been missed and the Pelicans had scored from their positions, this series could have been very different.
– They have come out of many difficult moments this season. The Pelicans have been in a difficult situation in the middle of the series. They shouldn’t have had a chance against Ilves away, but somehow they found the means. Now it has the last seam.
For the expert, it is also interesting to see how Tappara reacts to the fact that the Pelicans were not at their best in Lahti.
– Do they get this wrong or right? The Pelicans have a chance to attack that.
Pelicans gave the keys to Tappara
According to Nättinen, Pelicans did not manage to continue their good performances from the previous match, but on the other hand, it was also about Tappara’s goodness. Previously, Pelicans had excelled in the second installments, but now Tappara enjoyed themselves at the expense of the people of Lahti.
The Pelicans got a little new energy when it lifted Iikka Kangasniemi’s Lukas Jasek lead to the chain by Tyler Kelleher in place of. According to the expert, the people of Lahti should go to Thursday’s match with these offensive chains.
According to Nättinen, the people of Lahti must invest a lot on Thursday, especially at the beginning of the game.
– The Pelicans have a habit of receiving in the first period, but now they should be clearly more active and braver. Not giving those keys to Tappara.
In the finals of the SM league, the opening goal has been of great importance, because whoever scored the first goal has always also won the entire match. According to the expert, the Pelicans don’t need to change their playing more miraculously, but rely on their own doing.
– You have to try to play the same game as in the two previous matches and on Thursday at your best. It’s not worth pulling rabbits out of a hat when there aren’t any, says Nättinen.
The Pelicans can’t steal
Pelicans defenseman Teemu Eronen told Urheilu that the people of Lahti must return to the basics in the next struggle. However, according to the expert, it is easier said than done.
– Many would like to steal, be faster and correct a bit: I can’t do it now, I can’t. However, they should take each change, situation and loose puck patiently. It is also Tappara’s strength. They don’t change anything.
Also the Tappara center Jori Lehterä stated to Urheilu that Tappara has played smart “without any apparent show.”
– We have been able to do the basics and push it for 60 minutes. It has been functional, Lehterä stated.
– Playing situation by situation is difficult, because a person would like to steal and get more. Now, however, the Pelicans have to play short shifts and humbly. In the second installment, you don’t have to save the whole world, Nättinen refers to the enthusiasm of Lahti residents.