Vesa Parviainen
Rauman Luko has his say in the SM league championship battle, writes Vesa Parviainen.
Lukko celebrated a two-goal lead against Genève in Rauma on Tuesday. However, it was not enough. Elmeri Elo / AOP
The modest ranking of the champion from three years ago in the table is in doubt, and falling out of the CHL finals should not be interpreted as a weakness of the team either.
On the contrary, Luko’s fight against the three times more expensive Genève-Servette star guard was glorious in every way.
The start to the song came precisely with the combined result of the two matches 4–5, when the Swiss super Finns Valtteri Filppula (2+0), Sami Vatanen (1+1), Teemu Hartikainen (0+1) and Sakari Manninen (0+1) took care of Rauma 3–2 – a win.
Goalkeeper Jussi Olkinuora’s performance was also strong in the end, as Luko had his own places until the victory.
Although CHL success is the goal of the Finnish clubs that reach the Euroseries, the teams still feel it more of a burden in the middle of the tight league pace in the autumn season.
Lukon’s game fluctuated a lot in the domestic series, as he also played ten international matches by Christmas.
However, as a counterweight to the travel stress, they developed the team and also increased self-confidence when the wins started to accumulate.
In the league, the performance curve turned upward after Independence Day. The 11 matches played since then have elevated Luko to the second place in the fitness scale in an equally long selection. Above is only last spring’s finalist Pelicans.
Due to his gray autumn, Lukko is only eighth in the league table, but the recent momentum – despite the CHL semi-final loss – gives the people from Rauma to believe in spring.
In his last three matches, Lukko has defeated a series of big clubs Kärpät, Ilves and Tappara.
Especially last week’s away win over Ilves, after the CHL semi-final that ended almost at midnight the night before in Switzerland, was a rock-hard performance.
So was the immediately following home win over Tappara without the two most effective attackers, Sebastian Repo and Julius Mattila, who fell ill.
Apart from physical endurance, Luko’s mental side was also measured in the matches, as the team lost 0–2 against both Tampere teams before winning 3–2 in overtime.
Against Genève, the arc of the drama was the opposite in Rauma, when a two-goal lead turned into a goal loss.
Lukko can still draw faith in the future from the experience. It was able to challenge the reigning Swiss champion really strongly, although the line-up was still ragged.
A couple of players came straight from the recovery period, and in addition to captain Mattila, who was still on the sidelines, another important center Pathrik Westerholm dropped from the roster at the last minute.
If Tomi Lämsä’s appointment as head coach surprised Rauma more than it inspired great confidence – despite the man’s years in the KHL – then this season has already proven the worries to be unfounded.
Under Lämsä’s leadership, the coaching has got the five-man game under control, and Lukko plays at his best both tightly and courageously.
The game is characterized by a suitable relaxation, thanks to which it remains fast.
Sports director Kalle Sahlstedt has also shown his hitting accuracy again by acquiring valid exact confirmations in the middle of the season. Joonas Järvinen brings size and experience to the defense and Steven Jandric speed to the attack.
The acquisition of replacement time for Samuel Harvey, who unexpectedly disappeared due to family reasons, has also been successful: Christopher Gibson, who has played 16 NHL games, is getting a good shot after a long break and a difficult start.
In Gibson and Daniel Lebedeff, who was on the sidelines on Tuesday, Luko has a pair of molars that it can rely on as it strives to become a contender for the big leagues in the league championship.
It has everything for that.
