Just a few rounds ago, Brynäs finished seventh in the table, 11 points behind his teammate HV71.
On Saturday afternoon, the people of Småland passed by again and again.
Brynäs is in free fall and HV71 is running on water.
Explain it to someone who can.
It’s no secret that things go fast in ice hockey.
It had only been two weeks since Brinas beat Vrjestad 3-2 away and it was in the first half.
Then I thought Miko Manner and Brenas had found the way forward.
They were very impressed in that match, having beaten Malmö 4-0 at home just three days earlier.
The sun rose over the old Gavlerenka.
But after a 2-5 at home against Frolunda and five straight losses later, it was winter time.
Very annoying is that most of them came against opponents in the bottom half, Oskarshamn, Linköping and HV71.
Mikko Manner, with a new contract, it looks like Finland just lost the World Cup final and fans are going wild on social media.
In another part of Swedish hockey, it’s just the opposite.
The HV71 crushes Rögle at home 6-2 in a match that made Husqvarna Garden rock.
For now, it looks like Dick Axelson might be right in his pre-emptive advice.
He had his HV71 as a series winner, just like the three SHL coaches who gave the Småländers the golden tip in a pre-season meeting.
I don’t intend to go that far.
Not as far as the series’ triumph is concerned, anyway.
It must have felt like robbery
It’s still a long way to go to the top, even if HV71 has made great strides after breaking the national team.
They handed the Jumbo place to Malmö and now they have passed Brenas and there are no amazing distances to the top qualifying line.
And they have everything with them now.
Like when Fredrik Forsberg cut through a free center and when the ball was lying in the left position of Christopher Rivalk and Matthias Tidenbey came back there and Mendez was on the rebound.
It was 1-0 after just under seven minutes and the tone was set.
With Rögleögon, they must have felt like it was HV71 goalkeeper Johnny Orteo who robbed them of one, two or three goals already in the first half.
I can’t help but agree.
The Finnish goalkeeper was brilliant in the penalty area, making plenty of saves from open situations, not the least of which was the numerical superiority that Rögle possessed.
But after spending most of the period in their own territory, HV71 rallied to make it 2-0 with just 49 seconds left in the opening period.
Victor Scholem shot off the blue ball and Hermann Hansson headed the puck in front of the goal.
There was a video review going on forever for a suspicious high stick, but when Hanson touched the puck the stick was clearly under rib height.
This is what can happen when a team has a tailwind.
The second was just beginning when Erik Martinson pucked in from the left wing, which Radan Link drove behind Rivalk.
This was Småländer’s seventh shot on goal, so we can talk about one hundred percent profit here.
And when game nine came around, Frederick Forsberg led 4-0 after just 54 seconds.
By then, Rivalk was fed up and I got it.
Everything indicates that the distance is increasing
Now Adam Tambellini nailed it 4-1, 4-2, but with only 1.35 remaining in the period only André Petersson was left, André Petersson found André Mealy’s free goal with a butter pass, and the American was cold as he gave up substitute Cali klang. Bringing his backhand up to 5-2.
It should be noted that defender Emil Andre earned the fourth decisive point in this goal.
And seven minutes into the third, Fredrik Forsberg finished the goal celebration with a single digit number that made it 6-2.
It was Forsberg’s second and third goals of the match.
Tommy Samuelson might have wished the matches were closer than they are now, but there will be two games in two days next week.
First Örebro at home on Thursday and then the E4 derby against Linköping the next day.
Meanwhile, Brynäs will face blazing Timrå away and league leader Växjö at home.
Should we guess that distance continues to grow?
Everything talks about.
Malmö were the best away team in the series for a while – despite the bottom position.
With ten straight losses at home, this was what they had to count on.
But now you can no longer win away.
Last time around Oskarshamn won 3-2 in the mud and this afternoon they didn’t come close to overtime.
Örebro has won 5-3, and the people of Skåne are in a serious crisis.