In the finals of the Finnish Ice Hockey League, Tappara and TPS are fighting for the Finnish championship. Sports expert Topi Nättinen says that TPS’s surprise potential may lie in one area.
Puhe will follow the puck finals of the evening from 6 p.m. The opening final between Tappara and TPS starts at 6.30 pm. The women’s final at Kiekko-Espoo – HIFK will start at 7.15 pm. The championship is interrupted for the people of Espoo, who lead the series with 2-0 victories.
In the finals of the Finnish Ice Hockey League, the two spring superchains will meet when the superchain of TPS’s own kennels measures Tappara’s nominal quadruple chain, which is also top notch.
TPS’s number one link Mikael Wipe – Juuso Pärssinen – Markus Nurmi has beaten as many as 41 points in the playoffs in 13 matches. Correspondingly, the quadruple chain of Tappara Petteri Puhakka – Otto Rauhala – Joona Luoto has finished 30 minutes in less than a few minutes in ten matches.
The focus is precisely on TPS’s super trio, on which the people of Turku have largely relied in the spring. They have to succeed if TPS likes to fight Tappara’s star cream.
Top Sport Nättinen, an expert in Sports, sees no reason why the chain should not continue at the same pace in the finals.
– Of course, the resistance is getting tougher, TPS has no home advantage and Tappara is able to play against them. For example, Pyyhtiä’s vibe has been so strong that Tappara can work miracles to stop that field, Nättinen says.
Despite everything, this time the finals of the Finnish Championship League are becoming a defensive battle. Tappara released the fewest teams in the regular season and TPS the third least. In the playoffs, the same pace has continued, although TPS had its weak moments in the quarterfinals against HIFK.
According to Nättinen, the finals will see the top two defensive teams in the Finnish Championship.
– It will be interesting to see if defensive gaming goes into chess, or whether some games and situations also focus on offensive gaming. Uncertainty is always resolved in some way by defense, but this championship in particular is a battle for defense and a victory for defense, Nättinen says.
According to Nättinen, for example, Tappara has exceptionally tough individuals in his defense for the Finnish Championship. For example Mikael Seppälä, Veli-Matti Vittasmäki and Otto Leskinen are all defenders of the EHT level.
– Tappara’s action is at the same level regardless of the defender, there are no big throws. I would emphasize the way they play, including the attackers ’commitment to defensive play, risk-freeness, rationality and patience. They don’t go out of their way, but when they get there, they are brave, Nättinen says.
In the case of TPS, playing without a puck has been the strength of the team throughout the season. The people of Turku had challenges in finishing during the season, but in the spring the number one chain has supported the team.
– There have been clear tones in TPS’s defensive game and how to handle it. They have certainly learned ways to avoid unnecessary risks during a difficult midwinter, but to be active enough.
The encounter between teams focusing on a defensive game could be interpreted as seeing accurate, passive and error-free hockey in the finals. However, Nättinen believes that the audience and the atmosphere, among other things, will increase the intensity of the matches.
More than 10,000 spectators per match can be expected in each location.
– There are also such bright players at TPS, for example, at the moment that they don’t just agree to run and throw the puck at the end. I’m sure you’ll see spectacular performances there, Nättinen says.
In the final two, each defends with high quality against five out of five, but a clearer difference can be found in special situations. Tappara has finished the goal out of every four of his superiorities, but TPS has been about twice as successful.
– TPS’s offensive game has been clearly better in five against five and sometimes it seems that superiority has even mixed up the rhythm. It has been even easier for them to play evenly, Nättinen says.
Of the two, Tappara would probably be happy to take on a tougher judging line. According to Nättinen, even the underpower is perfect.
– If TPS wants to play evenly, then for Tappara it’s really the same as how to play. However, they are strong and their game works even more evenly.
Tappara will start the final series a little more rested, as he decided the final place already last Thursday against KooKoo with a 4-1 win. TPS made its way to the finals by defeating Ilves 4–2.
In the mutual matches of the season, Tappara was better with 3–1 match wins. Of these matches, Tappara won the first 4–1 and the most recent 4–2, but the other two matches were practically goal games.
Nättinen sees that the winner of the regular season, Tappara, is a strong Finnish champion. He recalls that, for example, the team’s number one star can still afford to improve in the finish.
For example, in the regular season, more than 20 goals finished Anton Levtchi (26) and Waltteri Merelä (21) have never succeeded in the spring games. Sentteri Tyler Morley, too there is only one spur.
– Tappara is ahead in many areas, but the goalkeeper game is tilted slightly in favor of TPS. Tapparan Christian Heljanko has been a small question mark. He hasn’t been tested yet either and he hasn’t had to play top games.
According to Nättinen, Tappara will be put to the test for the first time this spring without being removed from Luko and KooKoo. According to Nättinen, the regular season winners will be able to challenge the regular season winner in terms of play and material.
– However, TPS has been left to attack on a single chain, although in the HIFK series a foreign chain Tyler Steenbergen, Jack Rodewald and Juraj Slafkovksy scored some points. They need width if they want to beat Tappara, even to support the number one chain in the second field, Nättinen says.
For TPS, the situation will become precarious if Tappara suppresses TPS’s dangerous number one chain.
– Killing is also able to slow down the first field by playing. Of all the playoff teams, TPS is the best group that can really challenge Tappara. However, it feels a bit that Tappara’s championship train is pushing it convincingly on its tracks, Nättinen concludes.