The audience had enough – night black HV start of the anxiety qualifier

Before the season, there were high expectations for HV71, who had invested too much resources in the player squad. But the pucks have not bounced the Jönköping team’s way and when the regular season was summed up, it was clear that a qualifying game against Oskarshamn awaited.

The qualifying game then began on Friday evening and before the match the hockey supporters in Jönköping rallied behind their team and before relegation there was a loud crowd that stood behind their home team.

It also started well for HV71, who pressed in the opening minutes of the match, but when it failed, instead Oskarshamn and Viktor Lodin were able to step up and break the deadlock after a quick conversion – a moment that caused the pendulum to swing.

The goal, which came after five minutes of play, was then followed by Ahti Oksanen managing to extend the lead in the powerplay and then HV71 was in the dock for the second period.

Effective Oskarshamn

There the game then continued to be even, but it was Oskarshamn who continued to display an impressive efficiency – something that became clear when Austin Wagner made it 3-0 midway through the period.

The result stood before the final act and HV71, in other words, needed a minor miracle to shake the match to life.

But the glimmer of hope that existed in the home team disappeared completely when Viktor Lodin scored his second and Oskarshamn’s fourth powerplay goal with eight minutes left in the match. After the goal, the television cameras showed images of HV supporters who had had enough and left the arena.

– Now the audience is leaving Husqvarna Garden. With eight minutes left in the third period, they give up, feel that the race is over, stated TV4 Play commentator Lena Sundqvist.

After Lodin’s 4–0 goal, HV71 certainly rallied the troops when they were reduced twice again. But it was too little and too late for the home team, who were defeated 2–4.

After the match, there were, for obvious reasons, happy faces in the away team.

– We sacrifice ourselves, block shots, work our ass off. I haven’t seen that all season, so it’s incredibly nice to see. That’s what we need to win these matches, Viktor Lodin explained to TV4 Play after the match.

The result means that Oskarshamn now takes a 1-0 lead in this match series, which is played in the best of seven games. However, HV71 will get a chance for revenge at home already on Sunday when it’s time for match two.

Watch all matches from the SHL on TV4 Play.