Postseason preview: Semi finals

Postseason preview: semi finals


Vimpelin Veto (1) v Joensuun Maila (4)
Head to head: This matchup is tight - on ahead to head, both games in the regular season went to extra innings, one to a supervuoro (won by Vimpeli) and one to a kotiutuskilpailu (won by Joensuu). Going back beyond this season, Joensuu have won the 5 previous matchups, including last years semi-final series. On that basis one could argue that Joensuu are clear favourites, but that was last year - this year’s games have been much tighter.
Photograph from Joensuu Facebook (c) Joensuun Maila 2019
Form: Both teams have swept their opponents in the quarter-finals off the back of solid runs to end the season. Vimpeli took 14 out of 15 points in the final 5 games of the season, albeit they played some much lower ranked teams to get those wins. Joensuu has taken 12 out of a maximum 15 points in their last 5 games, winning 4.
Prediction: Vimpeli to win, 3 games to 2.
Summary: Vimpeli are the team to beat this season and their clinical dispatch of Kitee in the quarter-finals shows they are on a mission. This matchup is a tough one to call and their are a lot of reasons to back Joensuu to win; however the thing that edges it for our prediction is the fact that Vimpeli have topped the table with a comprehensive set of wins, having won 19 matches with 3 points, the highest in the league by 4. This shows a greater degree of consistency across the season, but also shows that the team is able to perform at a very high level.


Sotkamon Jymy (2) v Kouvolan Pallonlyöjät (3)
Head to head: Sotkamo have won both games against KPL in the regular season, but both of them went to extra innings, the last one was won by a kotiutuskilpailu. Like the other semi-final, this matchup is a replay of last years semi-final clash that went to 5 games. Of the 5 games in last year’s semi final, 4 went to extras in an epic encounter that KPL ultimately won. Sotkamo will be out for revenge this year and will want to avoid losing a jakso and taking a game to extras.
Photograph from KPL Facebook (c) Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat 2019
Form: Both teams swept their opponents in the quarter-finals. At the end of the season Sotkamo took all 5 of their last 5 games into extra innings, winning only 3 of them. KPL 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.
Prediction: Sotkamo to win, 3 games to 1.

Summary: This matchup is another thrilling series which could go either way; however we predict that Sotkamo are in a better place to win and advance to the final. KPL did much better than predicted against Seinäjoki, but the games were far from decisive. Sotkamo have an edge over KPL on head to heads and on form, so they are our favourites to advance. This match is a re-run of the thrilling semi-final last year that KPL came back from 2-1 down to win 2-3 - Sotkamo will be determined to right that result and will look to put KPL to the sword in this series. 

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