MTV: Karri Kivelä's harsh assessment of the league club's winning streak: "It won't yield wins in the long run"

HPK is cruising in Liiga with a four-game winning streak, but the team’s performances have not convinced MTV Urheilun expert Karri Kivi.

HPK has won seven of its 12 games this season. However, Kivi sees significant problems in the team’s play that could pay off in the long run.

Kivi highlights HPK’s poor shooting statistics in MTV’s Liigaviikko program. During the four-game winning streak, opposing goalies have had to make an average of only 14 saves per game.

– That’s very few. On the other hand, they are being shot at the most. These things do not bring victories from one game to another, Kivi states.

HPK’s shot differential compared to opponents is as much as 164 shots in the negative. This figure is the weakest in the entire Liiga. For comparison, the team at the top of the statistics, TPS, has a differential of 179 shots in the positive.

– The wins have come about this way, which means there aren’t many scoring chances. That won’t yield victories in the long run. They are not able to get their own game moving quickly enough over the neutral zone, Kivi says.

HPK has received significant help from its goalies early in the season. In particular, Kim Saarinen has been in excellent form. He has allowed nearly ten fewer goals than would have been expected based on advanced statistics.

Kivi is concerned about how long HPK can rely on the top performances of its goalies. The number of shots taken against them is the biggest question mark hanging over HPK.

– It indicates that the defensive play is not quite up to par. The puck is not cleared from their zone quickly enough. Goalies cannot constantly save the day, Kivi explains.

HPK’s next game is on Thursday, when they face SaiPa in Lappeenranta.

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League | 26.10.2026 16:10