Vålerenga IF – Storhamar Hockey 20-03-2025

The first semi-final between rivals Storhamar and Vålerenga is over, and as we hinted at in the previous analysis, Storhamar emerged victorious after the game. The semi-finals in Norwegian hockey are decided in a best of 7 series, and are played every other day, so the next game is already tomorrow. The first final was marked by nerves, both on the field and in the stands, where there was a lot of positional warfare with sure defense. Game two is at Nye Jordal Amfi, and the audience from Oslo Øst will probably do their part to ensure the home team wins this one, but will they?

Storhamar Hockey – a winning machine

The team from Hamar are naturally favorites again in semifinal 2, because even though they sometimes let Vålerenga down a bit too much in their own half, they managed to score in a couple of the opportunities they got in front of the opponent's goal. If they had been as effective as they can be at their best, there should have been one or two more goals for the yellow and blue. Because they had some 100% chances that they couldn't convert, including one where Storhamar came two players alone against the goalkeeper, and the puck ended up in the glove of Mathias Arnkværn, who made a feverish save.

Although the atmosphere on the ice and in the hall was nervous, it was Storhamar who controlled the game. According to the shooting statistics, they had 49 shots on goal, and with "only" 2 goals in the end, it is proof that the opponent's goalkeeper had a good day at work. But if there are to be goals, shots on goal must be produced, and Storhamar is good at this in addition to closing the gap at the back. They also have players who produce goals on a continuous basis, like Cole Schneider we mentioned in the previous analysis. He delivered again in the first semifinal with the second goal for Storhamar.

Storhamar has been good at home this season, but not too bad away either. In the league they played 23 games away, won 16 of them in regular time, and 4 in overtime, two losses in regular time and only one loss in overtime. So even though they are now going to an away game, they have the statistics on their side. Against opponent Vålerenga, Storhamar has only lost once away in the years 2024 and 2025, and that was in April last year.

Vålerenga IF – a team that wants a lot, but…

At Jordal, Storhamar is archenemy number one, because the fight for the throne in Norwegian hockey between these two teams goes back several decades. Players, coaches and old greats have switched between these clubs, and that makes the matches even more intense, precisely because they want to beat the "traitors" and the "enemy" even harder. The best example of that now is Storhamar's coach Petter Thoresen, who has mentioned to TV2 that he might someday coach Vålerenga again. Thoresen has both played for and coached Vålerenga before.

Things like that get players, fans and the club on the east side of Oslo fired up, and they probably call for a real crowd party to cheer on their heroes at Jordal. But then the guys on the ice have to do a better job than in the first semi-final! Vålerenga had 22 shots on goal in that game, which is less than half of their opponent's, and even though one hit the crossbar and one went between the legs and past Trym Gran's goal in the Storhamar goal, they didn't get any on goal. And that's not how you win.

Regardless of whether they are playing at home or away against Storhamar, the home team has not won more than twice in the last 15 of these matches. What may speak in their favor is that the two matches they won were at home, although in November 2023 and April 2024, so it is still difficult to say that this means anything in terms of form today. Vålerenga has also struggled a bit with minor injuries, and in Hamar's last meeting, two of the players had to make an extra trip to the locker room to get some treatment before they could go out on the ice again. And minor injuries can quickly turn into major ones in these matches, because the body is severely damaged by the tackles that, among others, Martinsen and Rønnild from Storhamar are constantly making. And injuries are something Vålerenga cannot afford.

Conclusion – Winner again

Game 2 of the best of 7 will be played in Vålerenga's Jordal Amfi, but we think it's the away team that will leave with the biggest grin. Storhamar has been the best all year, has the widest and most consistent team, the biggest advantage over the opponent and Norway's best hockey coach. They will get a fight from the home team, but we don't think it will be enough this time for Vålerenga either.

We therefore recommend the following games.

Hockey at 19:00: Vålerenga IF – Storhamar Hockey: Storhamar Hockey to win (1.90)