Read below for information on the Round of 32 series between SaiPa Lappeenranta and Tappara Tampere. SaiPa won 6-2 to advance to the Round of 16.
Preview
SaiPa take on Tappara in one of two all-Finnish match-ups this round. While SaiPa enter as the seeded team by virtue of winning their group, most observers will probably pick Tappara as the favourites. The defending Finnish champs under-performed in the group stage with a high roster turnover in the off-season, but are off to a good start domestically, topping the league standings heading into the Round of 32. SaiPa, on the other hand, have struggled and sit 11th. These teams have met once so far in Liiga play, with Tappara winning 5-3 in Lappeenranta on 20 September. The familiarity between these two teams should make this an interesting two-game set.
Closer look: SaiPa Lappeenranta
(3-1-0-0, 8 points, 17:9, 1st in Group I)
In their return to the CHL this season, SaiPa were nearly perfect in the group stage, dropping only one point and finishing with 11 to win Group I easily. They got off to an excellent start with a pair of 4-2 road wins in Berlin and Lulea. They got off to a slow start in their home debut against Lulea and fell down a couple goals, but rallied to tie it in the third period and eventually won in a shootout, 3-2. They then sealed the group win by beating Eisbaren 6-3. SaiPa showed an impressive combination of solid defence and timely scoring in the group stage, and they will have to continue that if they want to advance past their own league champions in the next round.
John
McFarland
5+1, +4
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Canadian forward John McFarland was on fire in SaiPa’s last game against Eisbaren Berlin. He scored a hat-trick and also assisted on one goal. Overall, he has collected 6 points so far in the CHL. As SaiPa head coach Ari Santanen said, McFarland can be a very important part of this team and team’s progress in the playoff stage. “When others loosened the grip, he went and scored a goal,” Santanen said. McFarland is a very fast skater who shoots on the right side. This is his first season in any European league and he has shown his skills and his potential in the wider rink. It seems that he has found his way, but will he be able to maintain this scoring pace?
Per
Savilahti-Nagander
3+1, even
Top Defenceman: Per Savilahti-Nagander is the anchor of SaiPa’s defensive game, and the right-shooting d-man is also important on the penalty kill. Savilahti-Nagander knows how to win in the CHL, as a member of Lulea Hockey in 2014-15 - in that victorious CHL season he contributed 5 points in 12 games. This season he already has 3 points after four games played. Savilahti-Nagander is loyal for his former and current teams, having played almost all of his career either with Lulea or SaiPa. Savilahti-Nagander has played the most games by an import player in SaiPa history. The question is, will this team loyal defenceman show his team the way to the victory in the Champions Hockey League?
Frans
Tuohimaa
92.86 %
Top Goaltender: Goaltender Frans Tuohimaa has taken his place as the main man between the pipes. Originally slated to be the back-up behind Jussi Markkanen, Tuohimaa played half of his team's games in the CHL group stage with a 92.86 save percentage. Coach Santanen said that Tuohimaa kept his team in the last game against Eisbaren Berlin with some big saves. Will he continue to out-perform former NHL goalie Markkanen as the season goes on?
Click here for team statistics.
Closer look: Tappara Tampere
(2-0-0-2, 6 points, 7:9, 2nd in Group C)
Tappara were expected to in their group, but were plagued by a lack of scoring, finding the net only seven times in four games. They started out with a mildly surprising 4-1 loss in Mannheim, but responded wth a solid 3-1 win in Lugano. It looked like they were on their way and would clean up at home, but were beaten by Lugano by the same 3-1 score, leaving them needing a regulation win in their last game in order to advance. Against Mannheim, they got off to a fast start – scoring twice in the first period – then barely escaped with a 2-1 win. They're still alive, but know they'll have to be better if they hope to go any further. They're off to a good start domestically, though, and a month of league play, they should be ready to take on one of their Liiga opponents in early October.
Henrik
Haapala
2+1, +1
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Henrik Haapala is an excellent example of the junior path that Tappara can provide. Lempaala-born Haapala’s junior team is officially LeKi but he transferred to Tappara at an early age. After that, he went through the different stages and finally got the first chance in the Liiga in 2011-12 – this is now his sixth season in the league. Haapala has spent some time on loan in the second-tier Mestis over the years but has gradually gotten more responsibility and taken it well. Last season, he recorded 36 points in 65 regular-season and playoff games and he has continued from there. He is the Top Scorer for Tappara in both the CHL and Liiga – a truly remarkable man.
Pekka
Saravo
0+1, +1
Top Defenceman: Pekka Saravo has become over the years a sort of cult player to Tappara’s fans. The 36-year-old is Tappara’s own junior product and has played in the Liiga since 2000-01. He has spent 13 of his 18 professional seasons in Tappara and has risen to a true leader status. Saravo isn’t exactly flashy or a star player. He is good in physical play and can handle the puck well. What he does, he does professionally and leads the Tappara defence by example. Saravo is respected so much that he has a song named after him by Finnish rap group Mansesteri.
Dominik
Hrachovina
96.43%
Top Goaltender: Young Czech Dominik Hrachovina has truly made a name for himself this season. The 22-year-old first arrived in Finland in 2010 when he played for Tuto, a second-division club in Turku. A year later he transferred to the Tappara organization and has steadily climbed the ladder up towards playing in the Liiga. This season is the first one when he has truly gotten the chance prove himself. Teemu Lassila has carried some of the responsibility but Hrachovina has played most of the games so far and at an excellent level. The young man plays with confidence and leads the defensive efforts with his perfect Finnish in a distinctive Tampere dialect.