Read below for information on the Round of 32 series between TPS Turku and JYP Jyvaskyla. TPS won 6–3 on aggregate to advance to the Round of 16.

Game 1

JYP appeared to do themselves a huge favour by taking a 2-goal lead in the second period of their home game in this all-Finnish series –Miko Salmio and Petr Hubacek just 2:16 apart. TPS came right back in the third, however, to score twice 37 seconds apart early in the third – both defencemen, Petteri Nummelin on the power play and Elmeri Eronen. They now take it back home on even terms, and merely need a win to advance.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

TPS Turku and JYP Jyvaskyla will contest the only all-Finnish tie of the Round of 32, with both teams eager to claim national pride in two mouth-watering games. The two teams had differing fortunes in the Finnish domestic Liiga last season, as while TPS finished in 13th place, JYP claimed the bronze medal. Despite TPS’s poor league, however, they performed well against JYP, winning two of the four games between both teams. Furthermore, by virtue of winning Group G, TPS go into this tie having home ice in the second game, which may potentially be of crucial importance. On the other hand, JYP will be looking to take the game to their southern Finnish opponents in the same vein as they did in October 2014, where now-captain Tuomas Pihlman scored twice in a 6–2 victory at the Synergia-areena. Both teams have had near .500 records during their pre-season campaigns, making this contest, on paper, too close to call.

With an exciting roster and a new head coach in the form of Ari-Pekka Selin, TPS Turku look to be a team on the rise. Through finishing first in Group G, TPS are seeking to qualify for the Round of 16 for the second consecutive season. A closely fought 5–4 victory on the road in Dusseldorf on Game Day 4 was enough for TPS to secure qualification and their place in Basket 1 of the Round of 32 draw with a game to spare. A 2–1 shootout loss in the return game against Dusseldorfer EG was inconsequential, but demonstrated a potential vulnerability in the Southern Finnish side. TPS needed overtime to defeat Black Wings Linz in Game Day 3, while their Game Day 4 victory in Dusseldorf was only secured 50 seconds from the end of regulation time, through Harri Tikkanen’s power-play goal. 

Tomi

Kallio

2+3, +4

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: TPS is relying heavily on experience this season. Newly-named captain Tomi Kallio has already proven to be more than a reliable scorer. After the group stage, Kallio leads TPS with 5 points in 4 games. From early in the CHL and in the domestic league, Kallio has developed some nice chemistry with linemate Lauri Tukonen. This dynamic duo with Kallio leading the way could very well prove to be the difference in a tight playoff match-up.

 

Henrik

Tallinder

2+2, +2

 

Top Defenceman: The Swedish stalwart was acquired to become the solid rock, around which the TPS defence would be built. He has been just that. Tallinder is one of the leaders of the team and leads by example by thwarting the opposition’s offence time after time. On top of that, Tallinder has also chipped on offensively by tallying 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in the group stage.

 

Teemu

Lassila

94.44 %

 

Top Goaltender: Teemu Lassila offered his team solid goaltending work during the group stage. Lassila played three games and won two of them. His stats are impressive: a save percentage of 94.44 and he let only 1.58 goals behind him per game. Alexander Georgiyev played only one game and let four goals in against Dusseldorf. It is clear that Lassila is TPS' number-one goaltender.

Closer look: JYP Jyvaskyla

(2-0-0-2, 6 points, 10:9, 2nd in Group N)

JYP can perhaps curse their luck of being drawn against Swedish powerhouse Frolunda Gothenburg as they reflect on the round robin stage of the 2015–16 CHL. Marko Virtanen’s team started off this season’s CHL campaign on a positive note, suffocating the Sheffield Steelers at the Synergia-areena for a 3–0 victory in Game Day 2, while cursing their ill-discipline in Game Day 3, as Frolunda scored two power-play goals in a 3–2 victory over their Finnish opponents. In the return leg, JYP’s penalty kill was once more run ragged by Frolunda’s fearsome power-play unit, as the Swedish side netted four times with the man advantage in a 4–1 victory. JYP secured qualification on Game Day 4 with a 4–2 victory over the Sheffield Steelers, with Joose Antonen scoring the game winning goal in the third period. JYP will be desperate for an improvement in their special teams performance, as through the group stage, JYP had the second-worst penalty killing efficiency (63.6%), and only the 30th-best power-play scoring rate (16.7%).

Joose

Antonen

2+2, +3

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Joose Antonen is only 20 years old, but already he can be a diffence maker. He is a really skilled winger whose biggest upside is playmayking. Overall, JYP's offence isn't really skilled. It has mostly physical players who have a good work ethic. They can really make a nasty evening for the opposite team with huge amount of work and physical playing style, but lack of skill could be the death of JYP.

 

Mikko

Luoma

0+2, +1

 

Top Defenceman: One of JYP's alternate captains, veteran d-man Mikko Luoma has a lot of experience and leads by example on and off the ice. JYP's defence is an interesting mix of youth and experience. Every pair has an experienced and a younger player. Youngsters Valtteri Kemilainen and Sami Niku are known for their strong playing in the attacking zone. 

 

Tuomas

Tarkki

93.52 %

 

Top Goaltender: Tuomas Tarkki is the clear starting goalie of JYP. He is known as a goalie whose game doesn't have big difference between good and bad days, but that changed during last season. Tarkki's backup is young Veini Vehvilainen. The 18-year-old showed his huge potential last year during the WJC in Switzerland. He is expected to challenge Tarkki on the place of JYP's starter.

 

Click here for team statistics.

Related Links

12.09.2015 – Interview: JYP captain Pihlman: “The group stage was the first step”

04.09.2014 – Interview: “The game was probably entertaining for the crowd” says TPS's Tikkanen

21.08.2014 – Interview: Kallio feeds Tukonen for season-opening natural hat-trick