Turku vs Pelicans Prediction 17 September 2025
📣 In an upcoming Finnish Premier League match, TPS will host the Pelicans from Lahti at the Gatorade Center. Can the Black and Whites defeat the Pelicans for the fifth consecutive time? Let's dive into the details.
Head-to-Head
Last season, the "Footballers" and the "Pelicans" clashed four times. As noted, all four victories went to the team from Turku. The "Pelicans" put up a commendable fight, never losing by more than two goals. The highest-scoring encounter took place on October 30, when the teams collectively netted 8 goals. During that game, Canadian center Jean-Christophe Baudin shone for the black-and-whites before moving to the KHL in the offseason to join HC Sochi. The visitors saw contributions from players across different lines, highlighting the balanced nature of the sky-blue squad.
Head-to-head statistics Turku - Pelicans
Turku Team Overview
The "Black and Whites" secured a 12th-place finish last season, which earned them a spot in the round of 16 playoffs. In the first round, the team fell to SaiPa from Lappeenranta, losing the series 2-3. Young forward Viljami Marjala made a notable effort in the final game, scoring twice to push TPS into overtime against SaiPa. However, they conceded a goal in the 14th minute and were eliminated from the Canadian Cup competition. During the offseason, the "Black and Whites" underwent several changes. Alongside departures of Boden and Marjala, Canadian forward Aidan Dudas and Swedish player Maxim Lindroth also left the team. The squad bolstered their ranks with forward Aleksi Saarela from Swiss side Langnau and defenseman Landen from the San Jose system.
Match Results: Turku
Pelicans Lahti Team Overview
Last season, the Pelicans finished 15th, which forced them into a relegation battle in the elite Finnish division. The Sky Blues first outplayed Jukurit (4-1 in the series) and then secured a convincing victory over Jokerit (also 4-1 in the series). The offseason was successful for the Pelicans: they won four out of six friendly matches. The team also started the season strong and currently sits in 6th place with five points. On Saturday, they defeated HIFK from Helsinki (5-2). Forward Kristoffer Forsberg scored a hat-trick. The Swede joined from Malmö this summer, where he spent 11 seasons. During the offseason, the Pelicans parted ways with players such as Joshua Lawrence and Wyatt Kalynuk, both of whom are now playing in the KHL.
Match Results: Pelicans Lahti
🏒 Projected Lineups
TPS: Mäkiniemi - Reunanen, Scheholm - Pakkila, Määtätä, Pikkarainen
Pelicans: Bartosak - Jurgens, Kaijko - Karvinen, Vilen, Dudas
🥅 Goalies
26-year-old Eetu Mäkiniemi has spent several years in the AHL (within the Carolina and San Jose systems). The 2023/2024 season wasn't quite successful for the goaltender, as he posted a goals-against average of 3.14, prompting his decision to return home.
32-year-old Patrik Bartosak also tested his skills in the AHL, but the majority of his career unfolded in the Czech league. During the 2021/2022 season, he had a stint with Khabarovsk Amur, where he played 11 games for the "Tigers" and recorded a goals-against average of 2.80.
Editorial Prediction
In the upcoming match, consider placing a bet on the Pelicans' individual total of over 1.5 goals. They scored at least two goals against TPS in each of their four encounters last season. Furthermore, the "footballers" conceded two goals in two of their three matches at the start of this season, managing a clean sheet only against the struggling Lukko. Notably, players like Jurgens and Dudas, who were part of TPS last season, are now with the sky-blue team and will have something to prove to the "black-and-whites" on Wednesday.No comments
Betting Tips: Turku - Pelicans Lahti
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