The ice hockey championship league playoff spring starts today. In Oulu, Kärpät and KooKoo face each other, and in Pori, Ässät and TPS collide.
The opening round of the ice hockey SM league playoffs kicks off today. Oulu’s Kärpät and Koovola’s KooKoo start their match series from very different starting points. Being left out of the group of six for Kärpi was a heavy disappointment, for KooKoo already getting to the playoffs was a victory.
– KooKoo can go really easy to challenge Kärppi. They certainly know where to hit in Kärpi. Now KooKoo gets to surprise the “sleeping giant”, Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen characterizes.
– Even matches can be played. The playoffs are also suitable for Kärpi, because low scoring is their thing. But it wouldn’t be a big surprise if KooKoo continued, Nättinen explains.
The pack of flies is completely relaxed when the most important matches of the season begin.
– Kärpi had 60 matches to get his game in shape. Now they can only hope that the goalkeeper Leevi Meriläinen plays top matches and some lynx scores a few goals, Nättinen thinks.
– Disaster season for Kärpi. After the season, there will be a lot of discussion in Oulu. It seems that there has been a big gap between the players and the coaching. It will be interesting to see how they do in the playoffs, says Nättinen.
“The charm of Aces carries”
Pori Ässät and Turku Palloseura clash in the second pair of matches of the opening round. Nättinen expects an even series, but still makes the Ässät the favorite for the pair of matches.
– There are two really low-scoring teams facing each other. It was important for Ace to get the home advantage. I have no doubts that there would be a large number of Porilais fans in Isomäki, even though Monday is a bit of a strange game day. After five years, Aces in the playoffs, Nättinen predicts.
TPS finished ninth in the regular season. From there, it’s a long way to push for medal matches.
– TPS has taken a miserable dive in its festive season. In my opinion, their efforts have not been the same as, for example, Kärpi’s, but the ranking (ninth) is of course a severe disappointment, Nättinen pulls together the Turku people’s winter.
– I consider Ässä to be a big early favorite, even though TPS has beaten Ässä four times in the matches between the teams this season. There will be goal games, but I believe that the charm of Ässien will carry, Nättinen concludes his assessment.
This is how the opening round is played
Mon 13.3.
Kärpät-KooKoo
Aces-TPS
Tue 14.3.
KooKoo-Flies
TPS Aces
Thu 16.3. (If necessary)
Kärpät-KooKoo
Aces-TPS
The opening games of the ice hockey SM league playoffs will be played on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. Puhe’s ice hockey tour starts at 6:15 p.m.