KalPa and HIFK will decide the continuation on Thursday evening in Kuopio.
HIFK (Jori Lehterä) and KalPa (Filip Westerlund) are chasing a place in the quarterfinals. TIIA MAHKONEN / AOP
The series between KalPa and HIFK will be wrapped up in the fifth match of Thursday evening in Niirala’s montu. HIFK had a break on Tuesday, but KalPa, the reigning champion, took an almost clinical victory even with a lack of stars.
– A great series gets the decision it deserves, laughs Pekka VirtaIltalehti’s ice hockey expert.
– Now all the arrows are pointing in KalPa’s favor, but you have to remember that HIFK has succeeded in reversing its course many times this season when the default value has been against them.
Although HIFK got a 1-4 defeat in their home game on Tuesday, Virta is sure that a “timid and fearful” team will not arrive in Kuopio.
– HIFK has been playing playoff hockey for quite a long time. They have a memory that nothing is impossible, he characterizes.
– I emphasize that it is encouraging for HIFK how at the end of the regular season it was able to win away matches with routine, strong will and hard-fought play.
HIFK sanded down KalPa’s performance with their rough play, especially in both Kuopion matches.
– HIFK were on top in the first two games thanks to the hair-raising, emphasizes Virta.
– In the fourth match, KalPa already got out from under the hairline and thereby caught up with their attacking play.
Virta anticipates that if KalPa succeeds in passing the heat on Thursday, it will add more rounds to its spin play and thereby create an additional challenge for HIFK’s defenders.
– The challenge is maximum – but if HIFK is able to defend those turnovers, they will have the attacking, attacking and firepower.
Hartikainen’s powers are missing
Will Teemu Hartikainen play injured? TIIA MAHKONEN / AOP
KalPa gets his ban overturned by Patrick Curry and by Hugo Gallet back to the lineup. The return of Curry, who played the Kuopion matches especially in strong playoff mode, is significant.
Even returns do not offset absences. About last spring’s golden heroes Juuso Mäenpää is out for the rest of the season and was not injured in late January Jaakko Rissanenka too haven’t made a playoff comeback.
KalPa’s additional concern is Teemu Hartikainen lost energy. So far this year, he has played a total of 20 matches in the regular and HIFK series and registered only three (1+2) power points.
Although KalPa is plagued by absences and Hartikainen’s ineffectiveness, a nimble attacking team Konsta Kapanen, Aleksi Klemetin and Joona Saarelainen with leadership you can create chances and destroy them. Known as a good general player Andreas Okany has found himself an effective player in the HIFK series: four matches, six (1+5) points.
Expert Virta reminds us of KalPa’s functioning player production, which is currently bearing fruit.
– When the top team lost in the regular season, we saw what KalPa’s strength is. The club constantly produces players in the background who were given a big responsibility, he commented.
– They play the reaction game that they have been playing since they were juniors. Young Kapanen is also playing the puck of his life.
