In the third period, a tackle from Frölunda’s Joel Lundqvist hit Växjö player Robert Rosén’s head. After video evaluation, the referees determined the 41-year-old team captain’s match penalty.
The question is now about the main tackle, given that Frölunda is one loss from going out of the SM playoffs, Joel Lundqvist’s last effort as an elite hockey player. Lundqvist declined after the game to comment on the incident in the media.
A moment earlier, Växjö’s Glenn Gustafsson had brought down Frölunda’s Erik Borg with a punch to the face, which was “rewarded” with a match penalty.
— I was a bit annoyed when he (Borg) had the glove up to my face and hit back, it hit my chin unfortunately, says Glenn Gustafsson to TT.
The Växjö player says he is doubtful about the punishment he himself received, but speaks all the more confidently about Joel Lundqvist’s actions.
“It’s a tackle on the head, it’s probably a match penalty,” says Gustafsson.
During Sunday, the disciplinary board will make a decision in both cases. Frölunda’s coach Roger Rönnberg believes that neither Lundqvist nor Gustafsson should be suspended.
— I don’t think it was that dangerous, says Rönnberg and continues:
“It’s okay to take a match penalty, but hope both get to play on,” says Rönnberg and is supported by his coaching colleague in Växjö, Jörgen Jönsson.