Tampere’s Tappara continued its convincing work in the hockey SM league playoffs, when the reigning champion reached the medal games for the 11th time in a row. The last time Tappara was out of the top four was in the spring of 2012, when the team was ranked 12th and completely out of the playoffs.
In 11 years, Tappara has won four SM golds (2016–2017, 2022–2023), four silvers (2013–2015, 2018) and one bronze (2019). The axe-breasts of the regular season have now won three times in a row and during the period a total of four times.
11 years in a row in the medal games is also the SM league’s superior record. Between 1976 and 1982, and Kärpät from 2003 to 2009, TPS was in the top four seven times in a row, but a steady beating like Tappara’s is unprecedented.
A strong era as a team at the top of the league has been strongly personified on the coach’s side Jukka Rautakorpen and Jussi Tapolaabut this season it has been a Swedish-American Rikard Grönborgwho has created Tappara’s skin in terms of gameplay significantly to a new faith.
In this spring’s quarterfinal series, TPS challenged Tappara to a hard and tight set of six games, but even Grönborg’s Tappara managed to take care of its pre-favorite position, advancing to the next round.
TPS coach, played six years in Brynäs and Luluaja during his playing career Tommi Miettinen gave his confession in the sixth game at the press conference first praising Tappara and Grönborg’s contribution to Finnish ice hockey fluently in Swedish.
– Thank you for the series, it was a fair and tough series. You guys were a little better, and in a seven-game series, the better one goes on. Your presence here is good for Finnish hockey, you have a slightly different style and I respect that a lot, Miettinen stated to Grönborg.
Tappara searched for the right tracks
TPS, who knocked out Luko in the first round of the playoffs, was ahead of Tapparaa, especially in the early part of the series. Ax Captain Otto Rauhala admitted after the fight that it took a while for the team to get going.
– We have a new team and new systems. When we started twisting the playoffs, we had to learn a little how it works. You can’t expect subtleties on the field, you have to go through raw work. Then there will also be places to score great goals, Rauhala reminded.
– TPS certainly got a good flow from that first round, and in the first games they were more ready to fight than us. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but they were strong and played physical puck.
Rauhala has marinated in Tappara’s captaincy over the years, among other things Pekka Saravon, Jukka Peltolan and Kristian Kuuselan in the shields of the wings of the leading figures like. The team’s golden helmet tells about the level of demand Anton Levtchi pulled off a hat trick in the deciding game, Rauhala didn’t just stroke his star’s head.
– I supported him a little bit, that a bit of a stupid catch was taken and it could have been better to defend, but let’s forgive him today, when he scored three. Otherwise, a great game, and the spring man lives there.
Despite the loss, TPS left for the summer vacation with everything on the rink. Miettinen’s first season in Turku was a time of great changes, and Savolainen, who also appeared in Turku during his playing career, set out to modify many things.
The game fluctuated and the Main Series brought ninth place, but the season ended with boots on.
– Training and playing style have changed completely. In addition, what level of demands an individual player should have towards sports, in my opinion, has been driven in with a heavy hand, Miettinen said.
– It comes with mild symptoms and unexpected things, that is, to put it in Finnish, not everyone is up to it. However, the steps for the continuation have been created, and I am satisfied that the most important moment was repeated and the best commitment for this season.
“KalPa is a powerful, clever gang”
In the semifinals, Tappara will be challenged by KalPa, who shocked the puck crowd by knocking Ilves out of the continuation in the fifth game. The two met in the finals in the spring of 2017, when after KalPa’s two victories, Tappara marched to the championship by winning the next four matches.
In addition to Rauhala and Levtchi, there are still others from the team from seven years ago Brother Matti Savinainen and Valtteri Kemiläinen. Rauhala knows what is coming.
– There will definitely be a different series than this in its own way. KalPa is a strong skating gang with a good flow. A great series is certainly coming, and Niirala’s monttu is not the easiest away hall to play. However, when we managed to win in Turku, it will certainly increase our self-confidence.
A conkar center who talked about his substance abuse problems Petri Kontiola reversed his decision to quit in the fall and returned to the league once more in Tappara’s shirt. Konkar, who turns 40 in the fall, is missing the WC gold, but his eyes remain firmly on the puck, and his thoughts don’t wander.
– I haven’t really thought about it. I started this movement with the idea that I will put everything into the game and that will be enough if it is enough. The most important thing is that I get the feeling that I gave everything I could get out of this machine, Kontiola said.
The semi-final series between Tappara and KalPa starts on Friday, April 5 in Tampere. Before that, the fourth semi-final team will be decided when Pelicans and HIFK meet in the seventh quarter-final. You can watch the match at Areena’s Ice Hockey Tour on Tuesday, April 2.