Story Summary
HPK’s four-game winning streak has not eased Karri Kivi’s concerns about the Liiga club’s underlying play. The former coach and television analyst pointed to a stark shot imbalance, limited attacking output and a large workload for HPK’s goaltenders.
HPK have won seven of their first 12 games, but their opponents’ netminders have averaged only 14 saves per game during the current four-match run. Kivi argued that the figure reflects a shortage of scoring chances and said HPK have not moved the puck out of their own end and through the neutral zone quickly enough.
The club’s shot differential stands at minus-164, the worst figure in Liiga. By comparison, league-leading TPS sit at plus-179. Kivi also stressed that HPK have received significant help from their goaltenders, particularly Kim Saarinen, who has conceded nearly 10 fewer goals than advanced statistics would have expected.
Key Facts
- Karri Kivi questioned HPK’s play despite the club’s four-game Liiga winning streak.
- HPK have won seven of their opening 12 matches.
- Opposing goaltenders have averaged only 14 saves per game during HPK’s four-match streak.
- HPK’s shot differential is minus-164, the lowest mark in Liiga; TPS lead the league at plus-179.
- Kim Saarinen has allowed nearly 10 fewer goals than advanced statistics would have expected, according to the figures cited.
- HPK’s next match is away to SaiPa in Lappeenranta on Thursday.
IHM Discussion
The contrast in HPK’s early results and their shot profile is the central issue in Kivi’s assessment. A winning streak is tangible, but the figures he highlighted show a team creating relatively little shooting work for opposing goaltenders while facing the league’s largest negative shot differential.
Kivi’s comments focused on the route of HPK’s problems rather than simply the totals. He said the team have not been efficient enough in getting out of their own zone and across the neutral zone. In his view, that has limited the number of chances HPK can generate and left their own goaltenders facing too much traffic.
Saarinen’s form has provided a major counterweight in the opening part of the season. His goals-conceded figure relative to expectation underlines the value of that contribution, although Kivi cautioned that goaltending cannot be expected to carry the same burden continuously.
Why It Matters
Shot volume does not settle a game on its own, but the scale of HPK’s minus-164 differential gives context to Kivi’s concern. The team’s results have been positive, yet the available figures describe a side spending too much of the game defending and not asking enough of opposing netminders.
For HPK, the immediate importance is not to diminish a four-game run but to improve the balance Kivi identified: cleaner exits, more effective progress through the neutral zone and a reduced workload at their own net. Those areas would address the specific concerns raised in his analysis.
Mini Q&A
Why is Karri Kivi concerned about HPK despite their winning streak?
Kivi pointed to HPK’s limited attacking shot volume, league-worst minus-164 shot differential and the number of shots faced by their goaltenders.
What has Kim Saarinen contributed to HPK’s start?
Saarinen has been in excellent form and has conceded nearly 10 fewer goals than advanced statistics would have expected.
Who do HPK play next?
HPK face SaiPa away in Lappeenranta on Thursday.
What Comes Next
HPK travel to Lappeenranta to face SaiPa on Thursday. The match is the next opportunity to see whether HPK can pair their recent results with a more favourable shot profile.
IHM Final View
HPK have banked seven wins from 12 games and enter their next fixture on a four-game streak. Kivi’s assessment, however, is that the performance indicators behind those results remain a concern: too few chances created, too many shots against and substantial reliance on strong goaltending from Saarinen and the rest of the group.