The Hockey League playoffs and Aurora League finals will start on Tuesday 18.3. The matches can be listened to in EPN’s hockey round starting at 6.10 pm.
The Finnish Champions League playoffs start on Tuesday with four matches. The reigning champion Tappara is in a tough place against Kiekko-Espoo.
Tappara, who has achieved three consecutive championships, may be out of the quarterfinals for a long time. The last time the team was completely out of the playoffs in the 2011-2012 season.
Since then, the people of Tampere have always been at least in the semi -finals.
– At the moment, Tappara is really in a situation where I can no longer believe in the speech that Tappara is tough in the spring. Now it has been so bad, even a miserable regular season. I want to see where that team really can, because in this calendar year only the Jukuri and Flyers have played worse, Sports Expert Topi Nättinen says.
In this article, Nättinen goes through the most interesting topic of every match pair. Nättinen and a journalist are also explored in the SM League playoffs settings Jussi Paas In the 5 minutes program.
SaiPa has been a sensation of this season and its direct semi -finals slipped out of hand at the last minute, when HIFK won the regular season in a lucky hit with a 2-1 lead.
– For SaiPa, the last round was dramatic and surely many were disappointed at first. It would have been a big thing to get to the top four. At the same time, I believe that in Lappeenranta has been waiting for the playoffs for so long that it is even great when the club can play them immediately. However, five should go on, Nättinen says.
SaiPan and Raimo Helminen It has already been time to raise the parables Olli Jokinen Jukurs, whose game was no longer enough in the playoffs despite the good regular season. Nättinen is not worried that SaiPa is doing the same way.
– SaiPa does not forcibly drumming some way of playing because of the principle, but it feels like he can react. Their only challenges are that the club has not been a favorite in its history, although these players do not carry that burden.
– I believe that SaiPa is able to adapt to quite a few things. Somehow I do not believe that SaiPa would lose his grip, but I believe that the playoff game is even better suited to them.
TPS fought well with the playoffs, but the season has been volatile. The expert is suspicious that TPS, who has been rescued from the qualifiers, would get a new gear and the next level in the playoffs.
– Especially when SaiPa is a truly annoying opponent who fights, skates, holds at a fast pace, and who really has a really big home advantage.
– If TPS gets Max Lindroth Back, they can even shake the best underdog in the SaiPa League. I believe the series will go to SaiPa 3-0 anyway, whether Lindroth was involved or not.
Known for his gray, Kouvola and black -shirt KooKoo is a real black horse in the playoffs. KooKoo has been the best and steady team in the Finnish Championship this calendar year: KooKoo played 24 matches with as many as 2.17 points.
Against Sport, which has leaned on the number one point exchange Atro Leppänen (21+42 = 63) and Nelonen Simon Hjalmarson (12+48 = 60) for performance. KooKoo’s most powerful player Radek Koblizek He is ranked 39th on the point exchange, but as many as 13 players wrote at least 25 points.
– Before the start of the season, this series could have been kept steady, but the KooKoo Federation, the width of the team from the goalkeepers and the home in the big rink will make KooKoo a truly pre -favorite.
The expert will definitely keep Jouko Myrrän Coached KooKoo as a spring black horse. Nice is bustling that KooKoo will play for medals this spring.
– The goodness of KooKoo is also based on the fact that there is a good balance inside the team. There are four good chains and surely everyone will feel really important on the team.
Nättinen also points out that Myrrä once won the playoffs and grabbed the medal as a coach. Myrrä has found KooKoo’s strengths and has been able to use them.
– However, KooKoo has the advantage that they are not considered a threat the same as lynx or lock. Although it is known that they have played well, KooKoo is still a team with no superstars and big names. They still come as a surprise.
Nättinen is aware that Sport has experienced Swedes in his team and that the spirit of Kuparisaari can offer a surprise moment in the series. Still, KooKoo is progressing.
– I believe that Kuparisaari can make one victory, but KooKoo will eventually go 3-1.
Athletically, the starting points for the Kiekko-Espoo and Tappara series are very delicious as the rising champion faces the reigning champion.
For Kiekko-Espoo, the home advantage and success in the playoffs are important, as the club has told, among other things To Helsingin Sanomat to be prepared to a loss of up to one million euros.
– Espoo has played much better than anyone expected. There is a really interesting series ahead and Espoo has a good place to hit. Tappara is very vulnerable, Nättinen says.
There are many reasons behind the vulnerability of Tappara. One is the goalkeeper department because Juha Metsola has not been able to fill Christian Heljangon boots.
– No red thread has been found in the game and the team has many floors. Some of the players acquired before have already left and some have cheated really badly.
Nättinen also wonders that head coach in the Finnish Champions League did not show his fieryness Rikard Grönborg Certainly be the easiest coach in the midst of difficulties.
– At the level of the configuration, game -style and atmosphere, there have been really difficult situations that have clearly not been handled.
-I believe in a really tight series, but the need for a hockey-Espoo and Tappara’s historically bad tune turn to this to Kiekko-Espoo 3-1.
The series between Ace and HPK is perhaps the most even starting point.
HPK made his coaching change on time and rose an experienced Mikko Manner With the lead, even surprisingly high in the standings. Jarno Pikkarainen Has made a good impression in Ace.
– Ace had a really strong start and it credibly fought even from the place to four, although Niklas Rubin was injured. The aces finally fell down, but they have a wider team and a better goalkeeper, Nättinen says.
Recently, both have done more minor -winning. Nättinen feels that the Pori people have more experience and routine, while the HPK level varies.
– Aces is a train that bumps. It carries where to carry, but HPK can be seen surprises and it can exceed its own potential, Nättinen says.
Nättinen believes that the matches, like regular season encounters, are low. Although small things are turning the series to Ace, the expert believes in HPK’s surprisingly fifth match.
– Yes, there are surprises this spring. Aces will be too flat and they will not find width after the first field. HPK’s story gets the culmination and it goes 3-2.
The Hockey League playoffs and Aurora League finals will start on Tuesday 18.3. The matches can be listened to in EPN’s hockey round starting at 6.10 pm.