Roster Rundown
Kalpa Hockey enters the ice with a mix of seasoned skaters and promising young talent. Ville Ruotsalainen stands out with his impressive puck-handling skills, having racked up 40 points in the current season. Kasper Simontaival, a rising star, has notched 25 goals, proving he knows how to find the back of the net. Juuso Maenpaa, with a solid 30 assists, anchors their passng game, setting up those crucial plays. On defense, Aleksi Elorinne has been a wall, blocking shots like no tomorrow. They’ll miss the presence of Ben, a critical player on their defensive line, and Tuomas Kiiskinen, who's out with an injury.
Ilves, on the flip side, boasts a formidable lineup. Eemeli Suomi, the captain, leads by example with 50 points this season, ensuring he’s a constant threat. Matias Mantykivi has been a revelation, with 35 assists to his name, orchestrating the team's offense. On the defensive end, Niklas Friman has been rock-solid, with a plus-minus rating of +15. Jarkko Parikka is another defensive stalwart, known for his physical play.
Ilves will be without Jimi Kuivila and Eemil Laurell, key contributors who've been sidelined.
Head-to-Head
KalPa Hockey and
Ilves have a storied rivalry with several encounters over the years. Recent matchups have seen
Ilves having the upper hand. Notably,
Ilves 3-0
KalPa Hockey [April 2025],
KalPa Hockey 3-2
Ilves [March 2025],
Ilves 3-2
KalPa Hockey [February 2025]. This history suggests a fiercely competitive atmosphere as they face off again.
Recent Form
Kalpa Hockey’s last five games have been a mixed bag: a win against Assat Pori 3-2, but they’ve stumbled against
Ilves, losing 3-0, 3-2, and 2-3, and suffered a 5-0 defeat to Assat Pori. Their form's been shaky, that’s for sure.
Ilves is on a roll, coming off a dominant 6-1 triumph against Tappara Tampere and a 3-2 win in the rematch. They’ve also bested
KalPa Hockey 3-0, though they did fall 3-2 in their earlier encounter, then bounced back with a 3-2 victory. They’re clearly in a groove.
Wrap-Up
KalPa faces a daunting challenge against an
Ilves squad riding high on recent victories. With Ville Ruotsalainen and Kasper Simontaival leading their charge, they’ll need to crash the net and bury those chances.
Ilves, with Eemeli Suomi firing on all cylinders and a solid defensive core, looks poised to capitalize on KalPa’s recent struggles. The absence of key players like Ben and Jimi Kuivila will test both teams' depth as they navigate this pivotal game.
Summary
Given the recent form and head-to-head history,
Ilves seems to have the edge. Their offense, spearheaded by Suomi and Mantykivi, along with a stingy defense, makes them a formidable opponent. KalPa, while talented, hasn’t been consistent enough lately. If they’re to turn the tide, they’ll need a complete team effort and perhaps a bit of puck luck. But as it stands,
Ilves appears to have the upper hand.
Match Odds Kalpa Hockey – Ilves
Leon's odds are - on Kalpa Hockey prevailing at home.
At this moment our odds are equal to - on Ilves visiting team's winning.
Draw odds are -.
