The semi-finals of the Ice Hockey Championship continue on Tuesday. The matches will be watched live on Areena’s Ice Hockey Tour at 18:15. from You can find the live broadcast here.
Tappara–KalPa (wins 2–0)
Will the people of Kuopio run out of faith?
Tappara has been in the lead in the two semi-finals for a total of 2 minutes and 56 seconds, while KalPa has been the driver in the semi-finals for over an hour.
– Mentally, Saturday’s defeat was a really big setback for KalPa. In Kuopio, they played at the top of their skills and had a good time for almost 55 minutes, and yet they didn’t get anything out of it, says Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen.
Nättinen refers to the catastrophic black five-minute period in Kuopio, when the team lost its 4-2 lead to a 4-5 loss at the end.
What does KalPa have to do in order to be able to get back to the finals?
– KalPa has mainly played very well in the two semi-finals. The story can start building from there. You have to take the good things with you, they are only two goals behind and have played well most of the time.
KalPa’s number one chain Oliver Kapanen (7+6=13) and Juuso Mäenpää (2+11=13) are at the top of the playoff points market. Power trio supplements Matyas Kantner (3+3=6). After them, the team’s best scorer is Jaakko Rissanen (1+4=5).
– If you look at the lineup, KalPa needs more width for the matches. Also those who were on the page last time Tuomas from Kiisk and Benjamin from Korho. KalPa’s first court can carry the team, but four wins against Tappara do not come on just one court.
KalPa’s momentary passivity, lack of courage to play has been seen in the overtime of the 1st semi-final, when Tappara turned the game around for himself as a defender Tobias Ekberg With a 3–2 goal and in the last ten minutes of the 2nd semi-final, which led to a total meltdown of the team.
– KalPa has given up its own game identity, activity only by a few percent, but still in the important moments of the matches in the semi-finals. You just have to continue your own hustle and force the opponent to play without the puck, emphasizes the expert.
Tappara already flashed miraculous rises in the regular season
Nättinen says that he is not at all surprised that such a rise (from 2–4 to a 5–4 win in less than five minutes) is done by Tappara. According to the expert, they accumulate for the same teams for a reason. We got a taste of this already during the regular season.
– In my opinion, Tappara has not even been able to redeem the potential of the entire team for 60 minutes of play. On Saturday, we saw a glimpse of the fact that if they put their best skills to use, the aftermath could be quite devastating.
As the statistics below prove, Tappara has been at his best in the final moments of matches. The team’s goal difference is downright shocking, considering the events after only 50 minutes of play in this spring’s playoffs.
– Tappara’s strengths are the final moments of games, overtime and patience. Within the game, they naturally have a strong belief in what they do, based on their own history and the players’ experiences, and it doesn’t waver, Nättinen praises.
The expert reminds that Tappara has the home advantage until the end of the playoffs.
– It is worth noting that the goal difference in the winning matches played in Tampere is 16–5 for Tappara in the four games. It’s not easy to take loot from there. There have been a lot of goals for Tappara away in four games, a total of 14.
Of the five possible remaining games, KalPa should win Tappara Four times – twice in Tampere – to reach the final. Statistically, the regular season stalemate has a big mountain to climb.
Pelicans–Flies (2–0)
Lahti Pelicans lead the second semi-final series with a 2–0 win. According to Topi Nättinen, Kärpät has been on top of the game even earlier than the Pelicans, even though it is not visible in the victory statistics.
– Kärpät hasn’t sparkled, but it has put pressure on the right end in the last parts of the matches. Even in Oulu, they had enough equalizing places. The Pelicans have been dull and steady at the same time and played persistently.
What Ville Mäntymaan is it required to play proteges so that the win column narrows on Tuesday in Lahti?
– More active, bolder, more determined puck play. Forces the Pelicans defenders to defend and puts them in difficult situations.
Kärpi has the ability to play fresh hockey in the Mäntymaa era. According to Nättinen, it hurts the opponent much better than handing over all the keys to someone else.
– I’d rather over properly than under. I think this belongs to the DNA of Kärppi – and also of KalPa – in my way of thinking. That is, let’s do it in such a way that the gas goes to the bottom and it’s over in a flash, as if Kärpät starts to retreat and perform a trap, a nihilistic defensive battle.
Pelicans have played a smart, disciplined defensive game so far, and have only taken a total of four minor penalties in the Kärpät series. The best weapon of the Flies, the most effective advantage of the playoffs, has therefore not relled as desired.
– If you approach the issue in terms of the number of ices, the Pelicans have not had to hang in the defensive zone. The shot statistics may be a little blurry. Has Kärpät been able to play the attacking game they would have liked?
Flies desperately need width
From the point of view of the flies, it is worrying that the number one chain Ville Koivunen–Joonas Kemppainen–Teemu Turunen and power defender Miika Koivisto have scored points in the Pelicans series, but still the team from Oulu has lost twice.
– For example, a chain Peter Tiivola, Julius Junttila and Joose Antonen couldn’t find the power in the second semi-final, which the team desperately needed. Kärpät needs more goal scorers with surprising names, width for finishing, emphasizes Nättinen.
Julius Junttila (1+0 in 8 playoff games) was on fire at the end of the regular season, but Kärppie’s important attacker has not gotten the best out of himself or his teammates.
– Junttila may have had to play with the “wrong” players, and has not received enough support.
The Pelicans have a strong top, but they have received more revenue help from other chains.
– The Flies must force the Pelicans to break more, be even more active and aggressive. Apparent control is not enough, you have to get things started properly.