They are starting now.
Nail biting weeks.
High voltage due to electricity shortages in Sweden with Brenas being the biggest loser of the evening.
This evening has become a nightmare for men of manners.
I love these last weeks when everything had to be decided.
And this day, with its desperate search for new acquisitions before the transfer window, closes all hopes for a Wednesday night.
It’s the final stages of the marathon for many clubs now, with matches here finally drawing near.
There are matches Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until the final round takes place on March 9.
Some have the luxury of being able to put off training in order to be maximally prepared for the playoff game.
Others are fighting for their survival.
Like HV71.
Like Brinas.
One minute drama
When no one thought they could end up there again, one of the two teams that gave the qualification concern face two years ago will take on Malmö in a rematch in a month’s time.
The road to 52 rounds is going to be a drama.
Yes, each round can decide everything.
Like this evening that became a one-minute drama.
Personally, I saw Johan Larsson give Brenas the lead wide to Linköping, when he cut into the goal and got a jump ball behind Marcus Hojbjerg just five minutes into the first half.
Around the same time, Anthony Greco served 1-0 to Frölunda at home against HV71.
In the event, Brynäs gained a new six-point gap and played one game less
more or less stable.
And while Greco made it 2-0 for Frolunda, Arvid Sjostmar equalized for Linköping.
The distance was four points.
Then striker Dmitry Timashov made a completely foolish dismissal, when he pushed the club into the back of Oscar Vantenberg meters from the edge of the rim.
Vantenberg threw and Timashov got five minutes.
When he went out on the ice again it was 3-1 to Linköping and a few minutes later Gothenburg’s HV71 took the lead and tied it at 2-2.
And halfway into the Games, just two points separated them.
It grew to three, when Frölunda again took the lead, but after a late equalizer by André Pettersson, it was down to two again.
A few minutes ago, Linköping won when Markus Hahninkainen scored 4-2 behind Jussi Olkinora at the SABB Arena.
Finland’s golden goalkeeper from both the Olympics and the World Cup couldn’t help Brinas win in his first game.
It was 5-2 at the end with just over a minute left.
It can’t get any darker
I think all Brynäsfans would have switched to the Frölunda-HV71 at that point, to see how bad it would end up.
In this case, they had extra time and a penalty shootout, as Andre Pettersson stepped up and decided and got two points for Smålands.
It couldn’t get any darker for Briannas.
All they can count on is leading by a point and playing less.
And they can forget about the playoffs now.
The three teams closest to the front, Luleå, Rugel and Linköping each received three points.
Rogl won at home against league leaders Skellefteå 4-3 and new acquisition Simon Hjalmarsson scored directly.
And Lulea, who played another strong game and beat Timra away from home with a score of 4-2.
This means Brynäs has 11 points up to a playoff spot with ten games left to play.
It is guaranteed to be impregnable.
At the same time, this means that they only need to focus on one thing in the remaining 10 games to play. .
Keep the HV71 in the back.
The only positive thing after tonight is that they still have everything in their hands.
What was the most surprising finding of the night?
Malmö scores 7-4 away against Vrjestad. It was Scania’s third pointer against Färjestad this season, with Lennström & Co taking ten points out of a possible total of twelve.
tonight’s twist?
Oskarshamn where it trailed 2-0 at home to Örebro, and ended up 5-3.
The inhabitants of Småland never cease to amaze.
