Lulea is a finalist in the CHL and is on her way to becoming the best in Europe.
But in SHL, an anxiety attack lurks around the corner.
Lulea has the wind in his neck now after another loss, 6-3 away from home against Oskarshamn.
Suddenly the playoff line is terrifyingly far away.
Yeah, where do I really start with a match that has seen the most.
Perhaps with Luleå coming to Be-Ge Hockey Center as MVP.
Not only the impressive semi-final and shootout win against Frölunda in the CHL semi-finals on Tuesday.
Without more because Oskarshamn was a dream opponent in the SHL.
Twelve wins out of fourteen and five straight three-pointers, two of which came earlier in the season.
It looked good now too, when Isak Bernström kicked a 1-1 penalty into the numerical advantage after 7.44.
Then Brendan Sheenemin lifted a loose puck that appeared under Tim Jewell’s leg guards to make it 2-1 on Norbottoms’ second chance at five-for-four.
Then there was only Luleå on the ice there at the end of the first period and the beginning of the second period.
Then it all fell apart in the middle of the period.
Jerry Smekal managed to make it 2-2 in front of goal after 3.57, a puck that could barely control the pace over the goal line.
Soon after it was 3-2 when defender David Quenneville shot from the blue and Joel Lasenante failed to save the puck. Although clearly visible.
He looks tired and worn out
A clear goalkeeping record which Lassinantti usually keeps to a minimum.
Goalkeeping is one of Lulea’s problems now.
Joel Lasenante, usually one of the most consistent goaltenders in the SHL, has fallen as a gray stone into the goalie league lately.
He looks tired and worn out which is understandable after sitting out 32 out of 35 games this season.
That’s already more than he did in the regular season last winter.
He hasn’t had the same relief as last year, when giant talent Jesper Wallstedt was a perfectly fine substitute.
Moura’s newcomer Matheus Ward didn’t get the same confidence, even though he played a big game against Frolunda on Tuesday. Now he was allowed to enter only the third period.
And she wasn’t there, even if the match was interrupted for a moment by a huge fight between badass lolio Oscar Engsund and the 197-centimeter William Worth Crowe. It was NHL class in that fight, except that no player dropped the glove, knowing full well it would increase potential suspensions.
But 5 + 20 on both was given to the Swedish grammar book.
If you want to watch hockey, go to Oskarshamn
And of course the Smålänners were the winners in that match, with Lulea disposing of their best defender.
The score came to 4-2 shortly after, when Jonas Engstrom found Jon Dahlström completely empty in front of goal.
He just had to shove the disc into an empty basket.
And before the end of the period, Oskarshamn had their first solid game, the league’s best five-for-four.
Then it was 5-2 when Miles Powell pushed the puck into Lassinantti’s right corner.
Julius Hynka pulled the score back with a rebound before the period ended, but it was still 4-1 to Oskarshamn in one period.
And the match is over.
Oskarshamn played relatively easy in the third period and I was already waiting for Thomas “Bolan” Berglund to pick Ward off outside the box in a last-ditch effort to regain the lead.
But then Patrick Karlqvist poked it 6-3 with 4.29 left to play and didn’t even get the last chance.
I will never forget Oskarshamn who deserved to win and continues to score goals. And all the while with the same wide smile.
If you want to watch hockey, go to Oskarshamn.
Luleå suddenly became the prey of the hunt, as they couldn’t collect anything from the teams in front and also didn’t pull away from HV71 during the qualifying streak.
Smålänners, who meet Frölunda at home on Friday, are eight points behind Norrbotnings, but at the same time have played two fewer games.
Six points maximum in those games – though that’s unlikely – and that would separate two points by a paltry.
A few sleepless nights await you in Norrbotten.
Brendan Shenemin W.
He was already fined twice for shooting early in the season and is now out diving in the first period. I won’t take credit for the Canadian, but I probably thought he was hardened when he was hooked on it by Emil Lilleberg.
Whether that would then lead to new fines or an acquittal, I find it difficult to assess.
I’ve always found it hard to be completely sure when it comes to photography.
And Shinnimin always has the extra eye of the judges on him.
Even if it is self-made.
It wasn’t just against Luleå in Oskarshamn.
The teams that are closer to the playoff line have disappeared a bit.
The four points separating the Smålands that would have been one, suddenly rose to seven.
At the same time, Linköping defeated Rögle (6-2) and achieved the same margin. Leksand won at home against Skellefteå and lead by seven points as well.
There are many teams to pass through to the round of 16.
finally:
Could CHL’s investment be the cause of Lulea’s downfall?
Yes, to some extent I think so.
It takes strength and energy, and there will be many more matches and added pressure on an already fragile team.
There can hardly be more heaven and hell at the same time.