Floorball Premier League: Courland derby and Valmiera host Ķekava tonight

Two games are scheduled tonight in the Elvi league, Latvia's top men's floorball division, both starting at 20:00. The results will shape the standings early in the season.

Courland derby in Liepāja

FK Kurši and FK Talsi/TNSS/Krauzers meet at the Liepāja Olympic Centre hall. The Courland derby returns to the league after a one-season break. Both teams have ten points from six games, so the winner will take fourth place in the table.

Both sides have started games poorly this season, each leading after the first period in only one match. Kurši are the best team in the power play (54.5%), while Talsi have played with a man advantage only eight times. In five-on-five play, Talsi's goal difference is 33:20, second best in the championship, while Kurši stand at 23:30.

Talsi player-coach Raitums became the eighth floorball player in the top league's history to reach 900 points in the previous game, against Lielvārde/Unihoc. He could now pass Lauris Ābols, who finished his career with 906 points. Kurši's top scorer is Gvido Griezītis, who recently turned 18 and has 14 points in six games.

Valmiera versus Ķekava

At the Valmiera Olympic Centre, FBK Valmiera meet Ķekava/RB&B. Valmiera are sixth with eight points from seven games, while Ķekava are ninth and last with three points from six games, having beaten the reigning champions.

Ķekava's problems come in the second periods, in which they have scored three goals and conceded 12. For Valmiera, Oskars Siliņš stands out with eight points and a goal in five consecutive games.

Both teams have often gone to overtime this season: Valmiera in three of seven games, Ķekava in two of six.