Finnish SM-liiga 2003/04

[mlaa]

I see, that you pihinalle are a very big fan of Hillerit, Oulu!

I´m sorry that I cannot share your love for Kyrpät, but let´s hope better wins.

[budvar]

I have no chance to watch the finnish SM-liga, so I can make opinion about the finnish hockey just from euro hockey tour, World CHampionships and other international competitions. I think that the country which I would say plays the most physical game is Sweden. The most deffensive as well. They are tall, and tough. Therefore they achieve in the NHL more than the Finns. Sundin, Naslund, Lidstrom, Forsberg, Alfredsson, .... .Finns are according to me better skaters, and fast.(Selanne) I must admit that Selanne is older, it is not probably the best example, but you can see his descending career, cause he can´t use 100% his hockey abilities in the NHL. I think the Finns are more technical than the Swedes. I will always prefer our art hockey in front of the result hockey. But even we Czechs take some parts from the NAmerican style. I don´t like it, but to play for the spectator is a souicide today. I hope we won ´t transform our style into the NAmerican style. We´re loosing our improvisation.
I also think that Finland has majority of their best players at home, not overseas like other european countries. It reflects in the Euro hockey tour. I said, I´ve never watched any SM-liga game, so I just make opinion from the international scene.

[budvar]

I meant that Sweden plays the most physical game in Europe. Of course not in the world! there is Canada and the USA.

[pihinalle]

1st semifinals

TPS-HPK 2-0
Kärpät-HIFK 3-2 OT

[mlaa]

2nd semis

HIFK-Kärpät 4-2
HPK-TPS 3-4 OT

[mlaa]

Budvar-
1. I think that Swedes achieve more in the NHL because they are double in population compared with Finns.
2. Swedes are not taller than Finns.
3. Finns play more physical hockey than Swedes. TRUTH!
4. There has been said Finns to be near NA style more than Swedes.

One thing where Swedes are a little bit better:
They can play better as a team. Finns are too much individualists.

[pihinalle]

I agree. Finns play much more physical hockey than Swedes according to games I've seen. Sweden might be ahead in team play, but we are not far behind.

This is how I see it:

Sweden=A great team with some skilly individualists
Finland=Very good team with little too much individualism and not enough skill. Lots of hard workers.
Russia=Group of very skilly individualists with poor team play.

[mlaa]

3rd semis yesterday:

Kärpät-HIFK 0-5 (!)
TPS-HPK 3-1

So TPS to finals 3-0 and HIFK nearly there; wins 2-1 for Helsinki....

[pihinalle]

Kärpät have played very stupid. They are taking lots of stupid penalties. But it's not over yet.

[pihinalle]

HIFK-Kärpät 2-3 OT

And it's 2-2. This is interesting.

[pihinalle]

Kärpät-HIFK 3-2 OT

Damn that was exciting. Kärpät's goalie Niklas Bäckström got injured and could be that he can't play this season anymore. The overtime goal was scored by Brett Lievers.


Finals begin on tuesday in Turku. The bronze game will be played in Helsinki on wednesday.

[mlaa]

First final : TPS-Kärpät 1-2.
Surprising.

Why are you pihi, nalle? Could you explain the background for your nick for me?

[pihinalle]

What? What was so surprising?



My name? Hehheh. Well, let's just say that Pihi comes from my surname and nalle came in a floorball game when my friend accidently called me nalle.

[pihinalle]

2nd Final

Kärpät-TPS 4-3 OT

4.17 Brad Smyth 1-0 (Jussi Jokinen, Martin Stepanek)

12.37 Vladimir Machulda 2-0 (Brett Lievers, Kimmo Lotvonen)

14.15 David Schneider 2-1 (Mikko Koivu)

25.51 Kai Nurminen 2-2 (Antti Aalto, Jiri Vykoukal)

48.20 Niko Mikkola 2-3 (Antti Aalto) PP

55.54 Vladimir Machulda 3-3 (Brett Lievers, Martin Stepanek)

71.46 Brett Lievers 4-3 (Ilkka Mikkola) PP


Now it's 2-0 for Kärpät. Their first chance to cut the series is tomorrow (friday).

[pihinalle]

3rd final

TPS-Kärpät 5-0


Kärpät played a lousy game. After 3-0 goal TPS scored rapidly two more and it was over. Next match is on sunday.