Story Summary
Ilves forward Luke Henman has set the early pace in Liiga’s scoring race, posting 14 points from 10 games on five goals and nine assists.
The top 10 of the points standings contains only two Finnish players: HPK’s Sami Päivärinta in seventh and HIFK’s Daniel Mäkiaho in eighth. The remaining leading scorers are from Canada, Czechia, Austria, Sweden, the United States and Denmark.
Elsewhere in the early Liiga table, HIFK, Jokerit and KooKoo occupy the relegation places.
Key Facts
- Ilves forward Luke Henman leads Liiga’s early points standings with 5+9=14 in 10 games.
- HPK’s Sami Päivärinta is seventh in the Liiga points standings.
- Päivärinta and Mäkiaho are the only Finnish players in the top 10.
- The other leading scorers come from Canada, Czechia, Austria, Sweden, the United States and Denmark.
- Ilves’ Mantas Armalis and Pelicans‘ Patrik Bartosak have the best save percentages among Liiga goaltenders.
- Seven Finnish goaltenders feature among the 10 with the strongest save percentages.
IHM Discussion
The early points table offers a clear contrast between the league’s scoring leaders and its goaltending list. Overseas players occupy eight of the top 10 scoring places, with Henman’s production for Ilves setting the standard after 10 appearances. By comparison, Finnish names are more prominent among the goaltenders with the best save percentages.
Päivärinta and Mäkiaho are therefore carrying the domestic presence near the top of the scoring chart. Their seventh- and eighth-place positions leave a notable gap between the league’s leading Finnish scorers and Henman at the summit.
Why It Matters
Henman’s 14 points have given Ilves the league’s most productive player in the opening phase of the season. The make-up of the top 10 also places attention on Päivärinta and Mäkiaho as the only Finnish players currently occupying those scoring positions.
The standings add further context for HIFK, whose scorer Mäkiaho sits eighth while the club is in the relegation places alongside Jokerit and KooKoo.