There are some exciting clashes to look forward to in the SM Liiga for the final week in the month of October. TPS Turku remains at the top of the standings after extending its tally to 34 points. KooKoo presently occupies 2nd spot with 28 points, with Vaasan Sport a point further off in 3rd position.
Lukko v KooKoo
Defending champions Lukko is currently in 8th position with 23 points from 15 matches. They have 3 regular-time victories from 8 home-games along with 2 wins and 1 overtime loss.
KooKoo has picked up 9 wins from 17 fixtures thus far, but their success is largely based upon home-form. On the road, they have managed just 3 wins in 9 matches and 1 overtime defeat.
Both teams have collected 10 points from the past 5 matches so it should be a pretty close affair. With KooKoo often struggling away from home, Lukko should manage to nick it in overtime.
Prediction
Lukko 3-2 KooKoo (OT)
Kärpät v Pelicans
With 28 points from 15 matches, Kärpät is presently in 4 spot in the league-standings. Pelicans are only a point behind their opponents in 5th position despite having played a game less.
Kärpät has the 2nd best home-record in the SM Liiga and has lost only once on home-turf till now. Pelicans have been among the best teams on the road having taken 12 points from 6 away-matches.
After losing the last 2 matches, Kärpät needs to get back to winning ways. Pelicans certainly are the team with the better heading into this clash with 9 points from the past 5 matches.
Prediction
Kärpät 3-4 Pelicans (OT)
Tappara v Vaasan Sport
Having taken just 22 points from 15 matches, Tappara is in 9th place of the SM Liiga at the moment. They have not managed to take advantage of home-field either having earned just 9 points from 7 home-games.
Vaasan Sport has continued its good start to the season to keep hold of a top-3 position in the standings. But that cannot mask its troubles on the road having suffered 4 regular-time defeats in 7 away-matches.
Having taken 10 points from the last 5 games, Tappara should have enough in the tank to get the victory. Vaasan Sport has not managed to bag a win within regular-time in their last 4 matches.
Prediction
Tappara 3-1 Vaasan Sport
IFK Helsinki v Ilves
Helsinki is presently in 6th position in the SM Liiga with 26 points from 16 matches. Their form at home has not been great however, with only 3 wins and 1 overtime loss in 7 matches thus far.
With 25 points from 14 fixtures, Ilves lie just outside the automatic playoff spots in 7th place. Their form on the road has been quite decent with 3 wins from 6 away-matches.
After taking 12 points from the previous 6 matches, Helsinki looks the team in slightly better form ahead of this clash. Ilves have collected 10 points off the past 4 matches so overtime might be needed to settle this one.
Prediction
Helsinki 3-2 Ilves (OT)
TPS Turku v Ässät
With 34 points at the end of 15 matches, TPS is in an excellent position to finish on top-spot in the regular-season. They currently have a 6-match winning-run at home, each of them coming in regular-time.
At the moment, Ässät is 3rd from bottom in the SM Liiga and 6 points off a playoff-qualification spot. Moreover, they have only taken 7 points from their 9 matches on the road this season.
Besides it winning-run at home, TPS has picked 6 regular-time victories in the last Liiga fixtures. On the other hand, Ässät has only been able to gather 7 points from the last 10 matches.
Prediction
TPS Turku 3-1 Ässät
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