So lets look at how Finland is shaping up for US Players in respect to Promotion/Relegation
Starting in Veikkausliiga (Top Tier)
We only have one team with an American - Brian Span at Mariehamn.
With 6 matches left - Mariehamn sit in 6th with 40 points. Lahti sit in 3rd the final Europa League spot on 42 points - so with 6 matches left it is certainly possible that Mariehamn can catch them. Their current record (last 5) is 3 wins, 1 draw 1 loss - I guess I would say they need to do their job and get a little luck to qualify for European play. #1 goes to Champions League, #2 & #3 to Europa League
There are no other teams with US Players, so no relegation battle here.
In Ykkonen (2nd Tier)
There are 4 matches left in the season
Currently TPS lead the division by 3 points for Honka who have GK Tim Murray in 2nd. KPV are 5 points behind Honka. Its a pretty good bet that Honka will finish #1 or 2...#1 is automatic promotion, #2 is a play-off situation with Team 11 of Veikkausliiga (currently HIFK) Both TPS and Honka have won their last 3, while KPV are fading - I guess I would say that Honka gets promoted which ever way the top 2 ends
In the relegation fight GrIFK look doomed - they are 5 points astray at the bottom and the competition over the next few weeks includes Honka and #4 team Haka - Daniel Stevens looks to be playing in Kakkonen next season
Note: Felix De Bona leads the Golden Boot for Ykkonen with 11 goals and Christian Eissele is 3rd with 9 goals)
Kakkonen - 3 Groups (3rd Tier)
The group winners and the best second place team have a chance of winning one of two promotion places to Ykkönen after a four team playoff. The bottom three teams in each group 10, 11 and 12 will be relegated to Kolmonen
Group A
2 Matches left
#1 KTP and #2 PEPO are locked in a great battle for the 1 spot.
PEPO has GK Paul Blanchette in their corner they sit in #2, 1 point behind KTP on 41 points
PEPO may have an ever so slight advantage as both of their upcoming opponents are in the red zone (at least on points) while KTP play 2 teams that are mid-table. Both KTP and PEPO have the same record over the last 5 matches, so nobody has an advantage of 'on a roll'
I am guessing - this is a pick'em!
At the bottom Kultsu with GK Craig Hill are just above the drop zone - based on GD - its just so close to call teams 10 and 11, mathematically 7 teams could still be in relegation trouble
Note. Gerald Ben is in 7th Place in the Group Golden Boot with 6 goals
Group B
2 Matches left
Our team to follow is BK-46 with Jacob Bushue and Mitchel Lopez. They currently sit in 4th place, but only 4 points separate 1st from 4th (only 1 point between 2nd and 4th) BK-46 are on a run winning all of their last 5, but the next 2 matches are complete opposites - playing #1 SalPa and last placed EsPa (in that order) I believe that if they beat SalPa they will get into that promotion group, if not they will have to wait and see if their the best of the 2nd place teams
No relegation problems in this division
Group C
2 Matches left
This division looks to be all but settled. AC Kajaani are 5 points ahead of GBK with Chris Corcoran, Lawrence Smith, Jossimer Sanchez & Patrick Khouri. VIFK with Ian Garrett lost the past weekend and cannot catch GBK any longer (so its a 2 horse race). It's assumed that AC Kajaani will not slip up and win the division. GBK are on a run, winning their last 5 matches, and will have to do their job winning the next 2 and hope that their point total is enough for the spot given to the best #2 team.
At the bottom, OTP with Timothy Wilson are in last place and relegated. Mathematically TP-47 and Jordan Rouse could disappear from Kakkonen but I don't think that will happen, they only need 1 point from 2 matches to be safe
Note Lawrence Smith is tied 4th in the Group C Golden Boot with 9 goals
Here are the current points, with max points possible in brackets, for the 3 Groups so you can see how close this all is with just 2 games remaining - again the winner of each group and the best 2nd team qualify for the 4 team play-offs, with the top 2 play-off teams promoted to Ykkonen.
Group A
KTP 42 (48)
PEPO 41 (47)
Klubi-04 38 (44)
Group B
SalPa 42 (48)
Vikiingit 39 (45)
BK-46 38 (44)
MuSa 38 (44)
Group C
AC Kajaani 47 (53)
GBK 42 (48)
That's it - 9 teams vying for 4 places in the play-off, with 2 teams to promoted
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