0–4 and boos to 6–4 and cheers.
Frölunda offered an unlikely turnaround at home against HV71.
– Few are blessed to be part of it, says Frölunda’s coach Roger Rönnberg.
Max Friberg had a hand in most things when Frölunda got up and over the uphill. The team captain had a goal and two assists before leading 5–4 on the power play with 7.32 left in the third period.
A goal that caused the boos after the first period to turn into cheers.
And there was more joy in Gothenburg when Linus Öberg secured the victory with 6–4.
– I am completely exhausted. This is an evening I will remember until I close my eyes for the last time, says Frölunda’s coach Roger Rönnberg to TV4 Play.
– It is a fantastic turnaround to come back after 0-4. Few are blessed to be part of it.
Minute of silence
Initially, however, hockey was overshadowed in Scandinavium when a minute’s silence was held for the 15-year-old boy who was found dead in Alingsås earlier this week.
He played in Frölunda’s youth team and was also a frequent visitor to the A team’s matches.
The HV71 fans also cheered and held up a banner with the greeting: “Rest in peace”.
Once the match got underway, it became a swinging story.
The guests from Småland scored four goals on seven shots in the first period and led by as much as 4–0.
– I think we deserve it. It is extremely confusing in its own zone. We lack the patience to finish the game in our own zone and want to move forward immediately, says Rönnberg.
For the second period, the coach changed the goalkeeper; out with Lars Johansson, in with Frederik Dichow.
At the same time, the home team got the game in order, reduced three times and in the third period the improbable turnaround was completed in front of a blissful home crowd.
“Nails again”
– I think the boys keep calm. Dichow enters the goal and nails again. It is almost the most important single factor. Had we continued to concede goals, it would have been impossible to turn around, says Rönnberg.
Frölunda thus continues to be one of the SHL’s strongest home teams and HV71 must continue chasing after the first away point of the season.
Rögle is also looking for a successful away game. 2–4 against Färjestad was Ängelholmsklubben’s sixth straight away loss.
Skellefteå won 3–1 at home against Linköping.
ANDERS WALLIN/TT
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