According to the information reported to the Ice Hockey SM League, Kärppie and Tappara’s player budgets are the biggest this season – 3.25 million euros.
In terms of bets, one champion’s favorite wins the game, the other doesn’t. Tappara has won only three points from his four games, Kärpi, on the other hand, has only three points from his four matches, and not a single full point pot.
The clash between the teams that started the season sticky on Saturday was won by Lukko, who defeated Kärpät with 3–2 goals in Oulu. Kärpät swore to the bottom of the series – HPK also has only three points.
The SM league is led by TPS with 13 points, with a difference of one point to Tappara.
After the match Lauri Marjamäki started the media conference by hinting that scoring is the team’s biggest Achilles heel.
– There have been a few problems with inefficiency. The positions (two posts) were even at the beginning, and then the opponent had the first advantage, and then the goal immediately, regretted the Kärppie coach.
Marjamäki is not wrong when he talks about a blocked finish, as seven goals in four games is a modest balance and the least of all league teams.
– It’s a bit trying. There is no shortcut here. You have to work all the time. It would make it easier if there were successes in the form of goals, because it brings a certain relaxation and momentum, Marjamäki stated.
Kärppie’s goal was scored in the Lukko game for the first time this season by the club’s 19-year-old self-raised, booked by the NHL club Seattle Kraken Niklas Kokko.
– It was not an easy start for the goalkeeper. The first shot towards the goal with superior power, and the puck went in right away. The first itch of the second batch, and it’s in right away. Lots of collectibles for a young guy. But he came really well to the end of the second set and everything else, said Marjamäki.
Based on the statistics, the Kärppi’s underpowered playing is inferior to the big club, as it was also the whole of last season. Four games is not a large sample, but the hotbed is visible.
If a team lets the puck into their own net almost every other time the opponent’s possession is superior, it is extremely difficult to win.
Kärppien’s Alivoima was the second worst in the last regular season (76.64%), but in last spring’s playoffs (57.14%) and now also in the early season matches (54.55%), the dive has been even deeper.
The team from Rauma got the upper hand twice on Saturday, making both of them complete hits.
– Murderous superiority, just like a colleague (Tomi Lämsa) previously stated, Marjamäki also updated the miserable special situation on the subject, but did not want to spoil Kärppie’s inferiority any more.
Results of the Ice Hockey Championship League on Saturday:
JYP–KooKoo 3–0 (2-0, 0-0, 1-0)
Kräpät–Lock 2–3 (0-1, 2-1, 0-1)
Pelicans–Jukurit 0–4 (0-1, 0-3, 0-0)
SaiPa–Sport and 3–4 (1-2, 1-1, 1-0, 0-1)
62.14 3–4 Holmström (Scarlett, Lööke)
Tappara–KalPa 5–4 (2-0, 2-1, 1-3)
Aces–HPK 1–0 (0-0, 1-0, 0-0)
TPS–Ilves 3–0(0-0, 2-0, 1-0)
Series table