It's been an almost traumatic season for HIFK, especially with regard to their local rival Jokerit who have been humiliating them all season long.
It's not only that Jokerit are a far more talented team, they've also been humiliating HIFK physically. Most notably they've made a habit of brutally and deliberately taking out HIFK captain and icon Ville Peltonen, whose career might have just ended because of the latest incident, and HIFK have not been able to respond, presumably because a word has come from the top that since there is a spotlight on the rivalry they should not tarnish hockey's image in Finland or jeopardise their plans for a new arena. Add to this Jarkko Ruutu in full ####### mode with Jokerit for the past couple of seasons, and maybe you can understand what a nightmare it has been.
They've been totally emasculated. Peltonen probably feels betrayed. They don't have much talent but at the same time they fail to respond physically.
So even getting to the playoffs has been a positive thing for a team that used to be known as a proud team but has totally lost their identity, and a decent series against Tappara would be great.
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