JYP, a Finnish ice hockey team, is facing significant player injuries just as they prepare to return to the SM-liiga playoffs. Player Leevi Tukiainen, who had been sensational during the regular season, sustained an injury during a match against KalPa on January 24, forcing him to miss the last 20 games of the regular season. JYP announced in early February that he would be sidelined for six weeks, but as they enter the seventh week, there are still no signs of him returning to the lineup.

As the playoffs approach, JYP's sports director Simo Mälkiä has highlighted the uncertain nature of the team's roster, indicating that evaluations of player readiness are ongoing. The approach taken is to focus on a game-by-game basis, ensuring that only players who are fit to compete will participate. This presents a challenging situation for JYP as they balance the readiness of their players while gearing up for the crucial playoff matches ahead.

To compound the issue, another key player, defenseman Sami Vatanen, also missed the last game of the regular season, having contributed significantly with a total of 44 points during the season. The absence of both Tukiainen and Vatanen raises concerns about JYP's competitiveness in the playoffs, as both have been pivotal in the team's performance throughout the regular season and are essential to their playoff aspirations.