Top teams run away from HIFK. In Pekka Virra’s opinion, everything is not in order at the Helsinki club.
Big budget, head coach and many players continued from last season and hard acquisitions. Still, IFK Helsinki is in a headwind in the SM league.
The team is on a losing streak of four matches. The position in the standings is third, but there is already 15 points behind Ilves, who is number one. Having played the same number of matches, Tappara is 12 points ahead of the Helsinki team.
– In the ball game series, where the rankings are decided based on the regular season, there would already be a big emergency. It’s clear that something is rotten when the lead is more than ten points in the barren, Iltalehti’s ice hockey expert Pekka Virta says.
HIFK is behind the leader in terms of points. Matti Raivio/AOP
Ville Peltonen coached by HIFK lacks game identity and repetition from night to night.
– The same coach and players should be visible in their game as others. So that everyone would catch that there is a clear game identity here. There is a big question mark when the game will be finished and what can be expected.
– HIFK needs to make the game tighter than it is now and the five-man game to roll better.
Ilves, Tappara and HIFK play different hockey. Virta points out that Tappara’s game identity is clearer than HIFK, even though the club changed after last spring, in addition to the head coach, a large part of the players and the style of play.
– Ilves plays traditionally, so to speak, but anti-cushion-like Let’s go to the SM league. Ketju looks for puck change in the lower season and rhythms the game strongly. At HIFK, we see a lot more stand-up and long pass type of hockey.
HIFK will face Kärpät in Helsinki on Friday and in Oulu on Saturday.
Crazy mood
Eemeli Suomi is on a high scoring pace. Mika Kylmäniemi/AOP
Ilves is on a seven-game winning streak. The team has collected 58 points in 27 matches.
Eemeli Finland is on a rampage, as he has scored 5+8=13 in the last seven games.
– Ilves’ game is in really good shape. Five-player and team play work, everyone supports each other. A top player like Finland can relax and make a result after a bit of a painful phase, Virta praises.
The expert praises Ilves’ way of using defenders strongly as the engine of the game.
– The defenders participate strongly in the rhythm of the game: they stand up and support the attacks. A big part of successful five-man play is that the defenders cooperate very strongly with the center and thereby help the wing attackers to get to the goal posts.
– In ice hockey, it should be worth using five players on the ice at the same time. Ilves is doing really well at the moment.
Hungry citizens
Pori is thirsty for a lost local game. Elmeri Elo / AOP
Satakunta Derby Ässät–Lukko will also be played on Friday.
– Has the local game been this consistent for a long time? Virta asks.
Aces is ninth in the standings, Lukko is tenth and a point behind. The people of Rauma have won two local competitions in Satakunta this season.
– Aces have been at the bottom in local games for years. Now the team is at the same level as Lukko. In Pori, it is expected that the locals will start turning to them.
The Swedish winger made his debut in Sport’s ranks on Friday Sebastian Wannström. The Swedish winger scored 33+13=46 power points in Ässie’s shirt in the 2020–21 season and was the eighth best scorer in the series at the time.
– It’s time for Sport to fight for a playoff spot. It’s clear that their finances are calculated to make the playoffs.