Prospects report: Good news from Finland

The New York Rangers have three prospects in action in Finland and they are all playing well.

The New York Rangers’ brain trust have to be excited by what’s going on in Finland.  They have three top prospects in that country and all three have picked up their play recently.   21 year old Lauri Pajuniemi is one of the best offensive threats in the Rangers pipeline and he may make an appearance in North America when the Liiga season ends.

Tarmo Reunanen has been playing a lot of minutes for HPK in Liiga and at age 22 and under contract to the Rangers, he is a prime candidate to be recalled as soon as the Rangers training camp is set to begin.  His team has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic,but Reunanen is showing that he deserves a long look.

Leevi Aaltonen is still only 19 and playing in the Mestis league after not seeing much action in Liiga.  He is still a candidate for Finland’s U20 WJC roster.

Lauri Pajuniemi (RW) – 2018 5th round – # 132

Lauri Pajuniemi is heating up.  He scored TPS’s third goal in their 4-1 win over KooKoo last Wednesday,finishing with a +1 rating in 13:26 minutes of ice time.  It was pretty goal with Pajuniemi (#48) beating the defense and deking the goalie.

It was his third goal of the season and his third in four games.

Two nights later, he added an insurance power play goal in TPS’s 6-4 win over JYP at home. It’s a lasered one-timer from the faceoff circle.

He played 15:07 and totaled six shots on goal, third most in a game for him this season.

On Saturday it was another win for TPS as they beat the Ässät (Aces) by a 4-1 score.  Pajuniemi (#48) didn’t score a goal, but assisted on Juhani Jasu’s game winning goal just 1:20 into the first period.  It was all Pajuniemi on the play, as he got into the offensive zone, split the defense and made the pass.

TPS had jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Markus Nurmi just four seconds in.  The Rangers prospect played 14:13 and also took two minor penalties, a cross checking infraction in the second period and a third period interference minor.

After suffering an early season leg injury, Pajuniemi is rounding into shape and it is showing.  He has four goals and one assist in his last six games.   He has also been +1 in each of his last four contests.

That’s four wins in a row for TPS after they stumbled early on.  They have yet to lose in regulation since Pajuniemi returned from his injury with five wins, one shootout win and three losses in overtime. They have climbed into fifth place in Liiga, but are still 11 points behind first place Ilves (Lynx).

TPS looks to keep their streak alive on Thursday at Jukurit.

Tarmo Reunanen (D) –2016 4th round – #98

On Wednesday, HPK and Tarmo Reunanen lost to Jukurit at home 5-2.  Reunanen assisted on the first HPK goal by Valtteri Puustinen late in the first period that pulled them within one goal of Jukurit.   Reuanen led all HPK players in ice time, playing 24:29.  He had a minus one rating for the game and had five shots on goal, the most among HPK defensemen.

On Saturday, HPK dropped another game by the same 5-2 score, this time to HIFK.  Reunanen was scoreless and finished minus three on the game.  He again led all HPK skaters in ice time, playing 24:25 minutes.  He tied for the team lead in shots with seven, most of any blueliner.

HPK is not very good, winning only two games in regulation out of 19 games.  They are in last place in Liiga.  Reunanen how had one goal and one assist in seven games and has been playing over 24 minutes per game. He has taken 30 shots in his seven game, over four per game. He was minus four over the last two games and that dropped his plus/minus to even.

On a negative note, due to restrictions in the Kanta-Häme region of Finland, all of HPK’s home games in December have been postponed.  Four games will not be played.  HPK’s next road game is on December 9 at JYP.

Leevi Aaltonen (LW)  – 2019 5th round – # 130

Leevi Aaltonen was not getting much ice time in Liiga so he was sent to IPK in the Mestis League and he is being much more productive.   On Wednesday, IPK beat Roki 6-3 and Aaltonen chipped in with one assist on the third IPK goal.  He played 13:41 and had two shots on goal and fnished +1.

Things didn’t go as well for IPK on Friday against Hermes.  IPK dropped a close 4-2 decision, but it was Aaltonen’s best game as he scored both IPK goals. He played 14:51 and had three shots. It was his second two goal game in five matches.

Saturday, IPK lost again, this time 6-3 to Calk and Aaltonen added one assist, but also was on ice for four of the Calk goals to finish -3 on the night.  He assisted on Mikko Juusola’s goal that knotted the score a 1-1 in the first period. He played 16 :26 and had no shots.

Even losing two of three, IPK is still in second place in Mestis with 38 points with 11 wins in 18 games.   Aaltonen has played the five games with IPK and has four goals and seven points including two power play goals.  Clearly, being sent to Mestis has paid off for Aaltonen.

IPK next plays on Wednesday  on the road for a rematch with Roki.