With the KHL playoffs approaching and the top three teams from each conference having clinched their playoff spots, the KHL writers at Last Word On Sports decided to collaborate for a playoff preview. Writers, Aivis Kalnins and Cirno Avery present: Jokerit Helsinki – KHL Playoff Preview.
Jokerit Helsinki – KHL Playoff Preview
Coaching: Erkka Westerlund might win the award for the most entertaining coach, but the Finnish national coach is also in the upper tier of coaching. Giving Jokerit a mixed system of offense, defense and a superbly disciplined team, he has the team sitting third in the KHL for shots on net percentage, while being fourth in shots allowed. And of course he gives us some fun moments.
Defense: Ryan Gunderson and Ville Lajunen anchor the Jokerit defense, sitting with 37 points combined. But the real beauty of Jokerit’s defense is its depth. There is a real lean towards a top pairing, but scoring comes is coming from each pairing. Even the young Oskari Korpikari, who has only spent 15 games with Jokerit, has clambered up four points, including a game-wining goal, and holds the second highest shooting percentage of the defensemen. Jokerit’s defense packs a scary offensive punch. Pushing all their defenseman on the powerplay, the entire top six defensive unit each having a powerplay goal to their names. Jokerit’s depth in the back-end will surely help for a longer playoff run. It will assure ice time is spread evenly and shifts are distributed appropriately.
Offense: The star of Jokerit’s offense is Steve Moses, who is in a dogfight with Alexander Radulov for top of the league in goals. He is a talented sniper with speed and skill, who is backed by linemates Linus Omark and Juhamatti Aaltonen. The team has consistently strong lines and effective powerplay units, combining for 39 powerplay goals across seven different players — which says a lot about Jokerit’s depth. They might not be as star-laden as SKA, but they are far more balanced both offensively and defensively. This is helped as well by Jokerit’s dominance in the face-off circle. Only two Jokerit players are below 40% in the face-off circle. Not only are they winning the puck, they are running away with it. I guess you could say they really are the “jacks of all trades.”
Goaltending: Henrik Karlsson might not be the best puck-handling goaltender about, but in net he’s more than competent. Jokerit have had faith in the tandem of Karlsson and Riku Helenius. The consistency has paid off. Sitting at .920 and .902, they might not be in the elite tier of goaltenders, but they provide Jokerit with a strong net presence.
Conclusion: They are one of the most balanced teams in the KHL. They have elite coaching, amazingly balanced offense headed by Steve Moses, and a defense that is forced to be reckoned with. Keep an eye on the sniper contest with Moses/Radulov, but also, if he gets more ice time, Korikari.
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