The SM-League playoffs are set to commence tonight, but the announcement of the rosters reveals daunting absences for the Jyväskylä JYP team. Notably, defender Sami Vatanen will not be playing, having recently missed the last regular season game. He had appeared in the previous match against KalPa just days earlier, raising concerns about his condition for the playoffs.

In addition to Vatanen, forward Leevi Tukiainen will also be absent. Tukiainen has been sidelined for a longer duration but was previously expected to return towards the end of the regular season. This news comes as a blow to JYP, given that both players had significant production during the regular season, with each accruing 44 points, including Tukiainen, who achieved this in just 40 games.

The playoff series will adopt a best-of-five format, meaning teams need three wins to advance to the quarterfinals. The absence of key players like Vatanen and Tukiainen could impact JYP's chances in the playoffs, with fans and analysts closely watching how the team adapts in their absence as the excitement of the playoffs unfolds.