Finnish Maple League playoff picture wide open heading into final weekend

The Finnish Maple League heads into the final round of the regular season this weekend with almost everything still on the table, as the Porvoon Butchers (7-2) are the only team locked into their final position while the Kuopio Steelers (7-3), Helsinki Roosters (6-3) and Seinäjoki Crocodiles (6-3) battle for playoff seeding and home-field advantage.

Porvoon has already secured the regular-season title, but second through seventh remain undecided. That leaves three teams fighting over the remaining playoff positions and home semifinal, while the Tampere Saints (2-7), Wasa Royals (2-7) and East City Giants (2-7) head into the weekend trying to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings.

Three teams battle for two home playoff spots

The Butchers have already locked up first place and will host the fourth-place team in the semifinals. The second home playoff game, however, remains up for grabs.

Kuopio has completed its schedule at 7-3 and can only watch.

The Roosters and Crocodiles meet Saturday at the Helsinki Velodrome, but the race for second actually begins Friday when the Saints host Porvoo.

If the Butchers win, Kuopio finishes second regardless of Saturday’s outcome. A Helsinki victory would leave the order Steelers-Roosters-Crocodiles, while a Seinäjoki win would make it Steelers-Crocodiles-Roosters.

A Tampere upset changes everything.

If the Saints beat Porvoon and the Roosters then take down the Crocodiles, Helsinki jumps into second, dropping Kuopio to third and leaving Seinäjoki fourth. If Tampere and Seinäjoki both win, the order becomes Steelers-Crocodiles-Roosters.

That leaves the Crocodiles unable to reach the top two, while the Steelers and Roosters remain alive for the second home semifinal.

Nobody wants to finish seventh

The bottom of the standings is just as unsettled.

The Saints, Royals and Giants all enter the final weekend at 2-7, leaving fifth, sixth and seventh still undecided.

A Tampere victory over the Butchers guarantees the Saints fifth place.

If Tampere loses, Saturday’s meeting between the Giants and Royals at the Helsinki Velodrome determines how the bottom three shake out. An East City victory would put the Giants fifth, Wasa sixth and Tampere seventh. A Royals victory would leave Wasa fifth, Tampere sixth and East City seventh.

Semifinal picture takes shape

By Saturday evening, the playoff bracket will finally be set.

Porvoon will host the fourth-place finisher at Porvoo Central Field on September 5. The second-place team will host third place in the other semifinal, which will be played in either Kuopio or Helsinki.

The two survivors will then head to Bolt Arena in Helsinki on September 12 for Maple Bowl XLVII and the Finnish championship.

One weekend remains, and outside of Porvoon’s grip on first place, virtually nothing is settled.