Luleå was whipped to win at home in Norrbotten this evening so that the season would not end.
They didn’t succeed in that – but it looked really good for a while.
Sellgren equalized
Växjö scored the first goal of the match in the first period, but a quarter into the second period, Jesper Sellgren received the puck immediately after scoring. He went forward, got into the lane and deliciously flicked a backhand past an otherwise great Emil Larmi in the Växjö box.
– There is no back that comes out on me. I get to break in and it will be a perfect finish at the far post, says Sellgren to TV4 Play.
Larmi played great
After Sellgren’s goal, Luleå took over completely. In principle, the entire third period was a single long press against Larmi in the Växjö box. But there was no goal, and the match went to extra time.
There, Växjö managed to decide after 11.44. Kalle Kossila struck with a direct shot on a pass from Eric Martinsson. It looked like Matthew Ward made a great save, but at the same time the goal cage was moved out of position by Ward’s shin guards, and the puck crossed the goal line.
– I thought it went into the goal, but I didn’t know which rules applied because the goal cage was out of position. But the boys said it would be a goal, says Kossila to TV4 Play.
Växjö–Rögle in the semi
The referees, who initially ruled “no goal”, decided to review the situation on video, and there they found that the puck had gone into the goal in an approved manner – and Växjö was ready for the SM semi-final. There awaits Rögle, who knocked out Färjestad this evening.
The decision to approve was absolutely correct, believes SVT Sports expert Jonas Andersson.
– It is a completely correct goal. I think it’s good that this rule exists. Even if the target cage is moved, it is completely clear to me that it is a goal. It has to be approved, so it is up to the judges to make that decision, he says.