Story Summary
Liiga resumes after the international break with TPS hosting KalPa in Turku, and both sides have received significant boosts to their line-ups. TPS captain Niklas Friman is set to return after a two-month absence, while KalPa bring Juuso Mäenpää and Jaakko Rissanen back into the side.
Friman had played only three games before his injury, recording one goal and one assist. He will skate alongside Arttu Tuhkala on TPS’s third defensive pairing. KalPa have reunited Mäenpää and Rissanen with Teemu Hartikainen on their first line after their respective absences.
Key Facts
- TPS captain Niklas Friman returns after a two-month absence and will play on the third defensive pairing with Arttu Tuhkala.
- Friman recorded one goal and one assist in three games before his injury absence.
- KalPa forward Juuso Mäenpää returns after missing the past month.
- Jaakko Rissanen returns for KalPa after sitting out the previous game.
- Mäenpää and Rissanen will join Teemu Hartikainen on KalPa’s first line.
- Mäenpää has two goals and seven assists in 11 games this season.
- KalPa forward Cade Borchardt remains out after leaving the previous game injured.
IHM Discussion
The returning players give the game a noticeably different shape from the teams that entered the break. TPS regain their captain and an experienced defenceman, although Friman’s placement on the third pair reflects that he is being brought back within a defined line-up role rather than dropped into a featured pairing.
KalPa’s changes are concentrated at the top of the forward group. Mäenpää and Rissanen have both produced strongly despite their absences, combining for 20 points across their early-season appearances. Their immediate reunion with Hartikainen gives KalPa an established first-line combination for the restart.
The absences remain part of the equation. Borchardt is unavailable for KalPa after being unable to finish the previous match, so the visitors regain two productive forwards while remaining without another member of the group.
Why It Matters
The international-break restart brings an immediate test of depth and readiness for both clubs. Friman’s return restores TPS’s captain to the defensive group after a lengthy lay-off, while KalPa can again dress two players who have been among their most productive scorers this season.
For KalPa, placing Mäenpää and Rissanen straight onto the first line makes their contribution central to the line-up rather than gradual. TPS, meanwhile, have a concrete defensive addition in Friman and will have him paired with Tuhkala. The game in Turku therefore offers an early look at how each side resumes league play with important personnel back available.