Things go fast in SHL ice hockey.
Just ask Frölunda’s Anders Grönlund.
It was he who, in the first period against Färjestad, ended up in a thankless duel against perhaps SHL ice hockey’s fastest player. Joakim Nygård has a gear that few can match; Grönlund couldn’t.
This time, Färjestad’s flying forward finished with a break draw. It was 1–0 for the home team.
— I was just trying to get the bugs started. Nice to be able to do that. It’s been a bit tough lately. I’m not a super goalscorer, but it was actually nice, says Nygård to C More.
Quick turnaround
Things go fast in hockey.
Ask Färjestad’s goalkeeper Matt Tomkins.
Everything looked good for almost two periods. Frölunda created a few stray chances but the Canadian stood in the way.
Then the guests got the chance in the power play for the second time. Patrik Carlsson took advantage of the opportunity and spot-kicked 1-1.
— Very important. Always great (to score). Really nice, says Carlsson.
Then it only took a minute and a half before Max Friberg, who eclipsed Tomkins at the equalizing goal, sent in 2-1 for the visitors.
“Mediocre minutes”
It was packed in the stands in Karlstad and the intensity was high, but everything that happened on the ice was not of the highest quality.
Despite leading 2–1 after two periods, Frölunda’s coach Roger Rönnberg was not completely satisfied.
— 40 mediocre minutes. Game-wise, we don’t play well at all, but we take the chances we get, he says.
It got better in the third period, when Frölunda showed that offense is the best defense. The guests had a handful of chances to extend the lead even before veteran Joel Lundqvist made it 3-1 with barely four minutes left.
Remi Elie arranged an exciting finish with his reduction to 2–3, but Loui Eriksson made it 4–2 in an empty cage. Then it didn’t matter that Joakim Nygård scored two goals, 3–4.
With the victory, the seventh in the last eight games, Frölunda defends third place in the SHL table – the position ahead of Färjestad.