Closed – SaiPa 11-04-2025

1. We have reached the semi-finals of the Finnish Liiga playoffs. Where the home team Lukko takes on SaiPa in the first game of a series of 7. Here we are talking about series winner Lukko against the team that came in 5th. What is special is that there were only 6 points separating the teams after 60 games. A record-breaking league in other words.

We believe that these matches can also be even, and the home field advantage that is so important in the playoffs, may well be the deciding factor here. Lukko usually plays solidly in Aijansuo Arena, which holds 5400 spectators. It will definitely create a good pressure. We are looking forward to it.

If you have the opportunity, we recommend you watch a game from the Finnish hockey playoffs. It's usually worth it. A normally introverted nation is committed when it comes to their hockey, and there's usually a good atmosphere.

Lukko – A team in form.

No doubt this is one of the favorites to make the playoffs. They have had a great season and have continued that in the playoffs. The team has had a great development from last year, when they finished 8th in the series, and were eliminated by TPS in the first qualifying round to reach the playoffs.

This year they are in the lead, and are also in form. They finished the season with 6 straight wins, and now have 4 straight in the playoffs, which means a streak of 10 wins in a row. All the games in the quarterfinals against Vaasan Sport were won by 2 goals or more, which was a gold mine for those who followed our tips there. We have a bit of the same feeling about this semifinal. As we have written about before here, there are almost no teams that score as many goals as this Lukko team, and that is always an advantage. If the team is going down, they will be able to turn it around. An important characteristic.

The best point-getters in the team are found as far down as 21st and 22nd place, which you might think is a weakness in that it is the best players who often decide matches at the end of the season. But here it actually shows that there are many who pick up points. The depth in the team is clearly the best of all teams, and all ranks can produce goals.

SaiPa – Just outside the top 4.

The team that finished 5th in the record-breaking league quickly had an extra worry. That meant extra games. In Finland, only the top 4 teams go directly to the quarterfinals. So that meant extra tough games to get where we are now.

They had to play a best of 5 series against TPS in the first qualifying round, and it started badly, with a couple of losses at the start. This meant that the team had to win 3 straight games to make it to the quarterfinals. They did it, after several even games, the last of which went to overtime.

While today's opponent was given a rest, they played 5 tough matches. The quarterfinals went better, and they beat IFK Helsinki in 4 straight matches. Although one match there also went to overtime. We think the team will eventually notice that drive. The matches will not be any less intense this round.

Conclusion – Lukko is superb internally.

The teams have met 4 times so far this year, and all the internal matches have been won by Lukko. All 4 matches have also been won by 2 goals or more. Both away matches have been won 1-4 and both home matches have been won 2-0 and 5-3. So without a doubt, Lukko has a big advantage going into this round against SaiPa.

If you add that SaiPa has had a very tough schedule to get here, and less depth in the team. We feel pretty confident of a home win in the important first match. Here it's about getting the upper hand early, and we think the home team will deliver.

Hockey at 17:30: Lukko – SaiPa: Lukko wins (1.83)

Alternative bet Lukko wins -1.5 goals (2.30)