Listen to the latest Äänäni under or in Arena. Special episode where the questions of listeners are raised.
Five of the last ten wins are not bad, but especially for the reigning master Florida, a good performance.
Given that the team has lost twice to Montreal in the previous month, for example, for Seattle, Boston and New York Islanders, clearly weaker teams, someone might start to worry about the trend.
Florida goes easily to the playoffs, but the investments are still down. Florida has fallen third in the Atlantic division. If the playoffs started today, it would have to start with the guest rink against the local competitor Tam.
On the other hand, statistics or deep data do not give care. Florida scores at a good pace and is the elite of the series in the protection of his own goal. The goalkeeper game is good and the special facility readings are in order.
So what do you rock?
EPN hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen Download the answer for a moment without thinking.
– The emotional side is missing.
– On the emotional side, they also appear Matthew Tkachukin and Aaron Ekblad interventions. Florida is currently playing a percentage. The idea is to play zero-zero and solve matches with overpowering. The team goes to the playoffs, so at this point there will be no anaerobic jerking, Lehkonen explains.
Four Finns play in Florida: Captain Alexander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen as well as recently fined for an unsportsman -like trick Niko Mikkola.
“Far from that level”
Lehkonen’s view of the percentage hockey is built through a large total load. Florida played in the final in the summer of 2023 and did so with the championship in 2024.
In addition to the long and tough regular season, many of the key players will be rushed in February in the national team’s top national team in Montreal and Boston. Tkachuk’s injury also occurred in the national team tournament.
Florida has played a huge amount of hockey in recent years and has been a long time for the last couple of seasons. The team also came last season by spring using energy saving batteries, but the batteries now in use are not even last spring’s stream levels.
Can I find the top tune in the spring by pressing the button in the third week of April?
– It’s not the source by pressing the button. Players and coaching must be aware that the change of rhythm can be made, Lehkonen emphasizes.
– In the case of Florida, this is a must -do because that team has been wearing the organ for several years. It is also a character issue when it is stated in the spring that now the guys are starting to bang again seriously.
With the exception of the goalkeeper game, the slimmer grip has also been seen at the individual level. It is at least special about how Alexander Barkov and Sam Bennett Level players can be minus players in a winning orchestra in power statistics. Barkov one, Bennett as many as ten goals.
In the previous two seasons a total of 76 goals Carter Verhaeghe Has scored 17 hits this season and has 20 goals in the power statistics.
– There’s no forced to do any more. If we think that Barkov has received the awards of the best defending striker in the series, we are now far from that level. On the other hand, this is not a stage where coaching can begin to fan. After all, that is the exciting situation, how it has been dealt with by the fact that the tops pull a minus.
Lehkonen raises his warning finger upright.
– Playing the current Florida is not playing a champion candidate. The eye test tells it unquestionably and everyone can see it. After all, that team is nowhere near the level that won the championship last season. It is certain that there will be no championship in this style.
The frustration erupted as an overpowering
On a late Sunday night, frustration rose strongly when Florida’s Finnish defender Niko Mikkola decided to hit the puck towards Montreal players in the end of the match.
Only the judges’ quick action prevented bigger fist on the ice.
– I don’t know where Mikkola was dug in, but it may be good for Florida. Maybe it was a bit like that to be awakened to everyone. At least it made the blood circulate on their own team and on the Montreal bench, Lehkonen laughs.
Lehkonen all believes in Florida as the NHL playoffs start in the third week of April. The first round will be either Toronto or Tampa.
– Florida has a chameleon game that can be adjusted according to the opponent. I believe Florida will find his game. Of course, it also depends on who comes up.
– At Toronto, I don’t think there is a level where it could challenge Florida, but with Tampa there would be a ruthless battle. And you don’t have to wake Florida in that series.