Post season preview

Photograph from Sotkamo Facebook (c) Sotkamon Jymy 2019

Postseason preview



Vimpelin Veto (1) v Kiteen Pallo-90 (8) 
Photograph from Kitee Facebook (c) Kiteen Pallo - 90 2019
Head to head: Vimpeli have a significant edge in this matchup historically and Kitee haven’t won since 2012, which includes their 2017 quarter-final series. Vimpeli have won both of the games between the two sides this season comfortably and took maximum points from both.
Form: Both teams have had an incredible run to end the season, Kitee have picked up 11 points out of 15 with wins against Joensuu and Tahko. Vimpeli have taken 14 out of 15 points, but have played some lower ranked teams to get those wins. 
Prediction: Vimpeli to win, 3 games to 0.
Summary: Vimpeli are the team to beat this season and they have topped the table with a comprehensive set of wins. Vimpeli won 19 matches with 3 points, the highest in the league by 4. Kitee on the other hand won only 5 with maximum points and only 14 wins in total. If Kitee are to progress they will need to show the spirit that they had to make the playoffs in the last week of the season. Vimpeli are firm favourites in this matchup though and you would have to think long and hard before backing Kitee to win this one.


Sotkamon Jymy (2) v Pattijoen Urheilijat, Raahe (7)
Head to head: Sotkamo have won all 3 games against Raahe this season, albeit that 2 of the games have gone to supervuoro. Raahe’s last win over Sotkamo was in July 2018. 
Form: Sotkamo have taken all 5 of their last 5 games into extra innings, winning only 3 of them which has bucked the trend for the season as Sotkamo have been the supervuoro specialists winning all of their previous games that went to extra innings. Raahe have won their last 2 games but lost the 3 before that. Raahe’s form is far from perfect coming into the postseason; however their 2-1s loss to Sotkamo will give them some hope going into this matchup.
Prediction: Sotkamo to win, 3 games to 1.
Summary: Sotkamo come to this game with high expectations, but not free from worry. Twice this season Raahe have rattled Sotkamo, both times were at home. This matchup sees Sotkamo as favourites, but Raahe have the ability to win. What will be important is whether Raahe can lead in both jakso as opposed to taking it to supervuoro, as Sotkamo have proven that they are masters of extra innings this season. Sotkamo are not invincible and have lost some matches to far poorer opponents, including an historic loss to Siilinjärvi and their final game of the season to Alajärvi in a supervuoro.

 

Kouvolan Pallonlyöjät (3) v Seinäjoen JymyJussit (6)
Head to head: Both games between these two teams this season have been tight with KPL winning both 1-2s and 1-0. The latter result was separated by only 1 run over the 2 jakso. Seinäjoki have only won 1 of the last 5 meetings between the teams, spanning this season and the previous season. 
Form: KPL have had a poor run of form coming into the post season, winning only 2 of the last 5 games taking only 7 points out of a possible 15. Seinäjoki have done only marginally better taking 8 point out of a possible 15 in the last 5 games.
Prediction: KPL to win, 3 games to 2.
Summary: This matchup looks to be a lot tighter than some of the other playoff series and KPL’s poor form of late will be a worry for them. History has KPL as favourites and considering they led the league undefeated until Sotkamo beat them on 7th June, they have been able to dominate at periods in the season.


Joensuun Maila (4) v Hyvinkään Tahko (5)
Head to head: Joensuu and Tahko both won a game in their 2 games against each other this season. Going further back Joensuu become clear favourites, with Tahko’s previous win going back to 2017. Home field advantage seems to have been key with this matchup as both teams won when they were at home. With Joensuu having  home field advantage, the matchup starts to favour Joensuu even more, as JoMa has won 4 of their last 5 home games and Tahko have won only 1of their last 5 away games.  
Form: Joensuu has taken 12 out of a maximum 15 points in their last 5 games, winning 4. Tahko has been less successful, taking only 6 of the last 15 possible points, with their only 3 point win coming against bottom of the league Alajärvi. 
Prediction: Joensuu to win, 3 games to 1.

Summary: Do not be fooled by the fact that these two teams are only 1 place apart in the table, as the dust settled at the end of the season there was a whopping 16 points between them. Joensuu are the reigning champions and have been playing with grit and determination to give themselves momentum into the post season. Tahko on the other hand seem to have lost their way in their last few games and will be hoping to hold Joensuu at bay. In this matchup Joensuu remain the favourites and Tahko would have to string together some good performances to overcome the reigning champions.

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