Classic played with its back against the wall and knocked the Oilers to the canvas already in the opening set. The championship gold will be decided on Sunday in Tampere.
Jussi Vainikka,
Riku Salminen
The men’s floorball Finnish championship will be decided on Sunday in the seventh final match between Tampere Classic and Espoo Oilers.
A very exciting decision was made on Saturday, when Classic took a forced victory at the Helsinki ice hall, boosted by their strong opening set, with a score of 9–4. Classic forged a four-goal lead in just over ten minutes in the opening set.
At the beginning of the second period Konsta Tykkyläinen already took Classic to a 5–0 lead, but the Oilers increased the tension in the same set and got within two more goals.
Classic eventually won 9–4 and postponed the decision to Sunday. Powers 3+2 crazy Eemeli Salin felt that the back-to-the-wall layout suited the Classic.
– Afterwards, it’s easy to say that it worked for us. We got off to a good start and did things better than in the last games, Salin told Urheilu.
The Classic has dominated the floorball league for the past few years, winning six straight championships from 2016 to 2022, while the Oilers’ last title has been a whopping 18 years.
– I can’t say whether it will show on the field. I think every player thinks about this moment and the next exchange. Nothing past or future will affect, Salin assured.
– Today there was a calm mind and full confidence in the team. We haven’t had any problems. Sometimes two games have been won in a row before.
The Oilers already played a memorable seven-game series against their local opponent, the Indians, in the semifinals. In the semi-final series, the Oilers took the decisive victory in only the fourth attempt. Even in the final series, the first break place did not bring results.
– Bad start. That’s when we started chasing the game, but it crashed at the start today. Tomorrow is another chance, the Oilers Jesperi Lindfors said.
The opportunity is unique, especially for Lindfors, who has played his entire career with the Oilers.
– Great moments. Dear company to me. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s really nice to be able to play the most important games for the club. Of course we are ready.
Last season, it was the Oilers who knocked out the Classic in the quarterfinals. Now the season gets the best possible climax between these clubs.
– Every fool weighs, but then it is weighed. A pretty great situation, Classic’s Eemeli Salin said.
The decisive final between Classic and Oilers will be played on Sunday in Tampere at the Hakametsä Ice Hall at 18:00.