Helsinki IFK, which entered the hockey SM league as the champion favorite, is sixth in the series after ten games. IFK’s early season play has not convinced Ismo Lehko.
In the papers of many experts, Helsinki IFK was the early favorite of the hockey SM league season. The team from Helsinki put a lot of effort into the hunt for the championship, acquiring, among other things, in their ranks during the summer Jori Lehterän, Petteri Lindbohmin and Joni Ikonen profile players like
HIFK hasn’t played badly, but the team with a famous line-up is still only sixth in the standings after ten matches. Perhaps IFK’s strongest opponent, Tappara from Tampere, who won the previous two Finnish championships, is at the top of the SM league. It has seven points more than IFK.
HIFK was still on a winning streak of four matches from the beginning of the season, but before Wednesday it had won one of its previous four matches. On Wednesday, IFK was in trouble in Hämeenlinna against HPK, but finally rose from the losing position to a 2-1 overtime victory with Lindbohm’s goal.
Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen described IFK’s play as forcing during set breaks.
– HIFK pushes forward too steadily, Lehkonen stated during the first halftime break at Puhe’s Ice Hockey round.
Expectations were clearly higher than at the beginning of the season. Jori Lehterä, who was acquired as the first center, has not yet managed to score a single hit this season. In ten matches, he has collected seven assist points.
– The supply is on point, but for some reason it just doesn’t go online, Lehkonen said about Lehterä.
– Iiro Pakarinen is tough in dueling. Also Juha Jääskä. So who will come? I would expect many HIFK players to level up.
The puck quality of the defense does not convince
Joni Ikonen, who scored 19 goals in the regular season for the Pelicans last season, has also not managed to score yet. Lehkonen expects more from him.
Kristian Vesalainen has been one of the few bright spots in the attack. Six years ago, the NHL’s first round reservation has scored four goals and six points.
– Ikonen has been acquired to score goals there. You don’t even hit the handball goal. Up until now, Ikosen has been entrusted with the yv responsibility. It’s interesting that Vesalainen has been in second place, Lehkonen wonders.
Lehkonen is also not convinced of HIFK’s defenders opening the game. American pack Luke Martin is the team’s best scorer (3+6), but he hasn’t fully convinced Lehko either.
17-year-old super talent Aron Kiviharju was getting better and better at men’s league games until he got hurt in practice last week. According to current information, he has been sidelined from real action for several months.
– HIFK must have good pucks if we want to talk about winning the championship.
This is how other matches were played
In the other matches of the four rounds, Kouvola’s KooKoo came from two goals behind to win 4–3 over the home team Pori Äss. Arttu Ilomäki made the decision in the shootout.
Oulun Kärpät added to Lappeenranta SaiPa’s streak by taking a 5-2 away win. Flies Teemu Turunen finished with two hits. Having played ten games, SaiPa is at the bottom of the series with only six points.
TPS defeated KalPa at the end of the shootout 3–2, as the decider Markus Nurmi.
Series table