Skellefteå is in serious trouble.
Örebro is on its way to a historic final.
The Millennium Series is hot and hockey has never been hotter in this city.
After two runs I felt more stable. Örebro’s 2-0 goal was on the low side, but as always, you can’t take anything for granted.
A couple of odd fouls from Örebro (puck and tagging and then a bad reverse check) and Skellefteå is hotter and more obvious and we had extra time.
60 minutes ago there was talk of the biggest match in Örebro’s history and it wasn’t just talk.
Örebro has certainly played semi-finals before, just two years ago, but it was during this terrible Corona season when the crowd wasn’t welcome.
Now, of course, there was a note on the door, 5500, and no one left disappointed.
After 20 minutes there was talk in the halls about the best period in the club’s history and I was ready to agree.
Walking to the Behrn Arena, I thought about what the opening match would look like.
I didn’t know what to expect
Or, well, I knew it.
A fully charged Skellefteå who immediately popped in to show that the home field advantage would belong to Västerbotten.
Be sharp in your actions
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not like Örebro on home ice is a team you come out of and dominate.
of course not.
But I would have thought Skellefteå would run significantly more than this.
Orebro looked ridiculously fresh both on the bones and in the thoughts. Razor sharp in his movement, with or without a puck.
Physically in all situations and Skellefteå showed once again that it’s neither a game you can’t tolerate nor really master.
There wasn’t much for the Tiger Stripes between the western bottoms, which were lagging behind in most positions. In two periods, in addition to the enthusiasm, I lacked quality in the passing game.
Orebro shone in all its glory. Washes on the visitors during the first half of the game.
The youth in Orebro are shining
The Millenium series plays Carlsson, Oscarson, and Öberg, all born in the 2000s, with such confidence and clarity.
Last Saturday in Skellefteå, they were behind the first three goals, and both finals came to empty nets.
Tonight they were on the ice for Örebro’s first two goals.
Skellefteå would sometimes completely outshine her own nobility: speed.
Orebro was faster, more skillful, and more accurate.
Orebro’s distinguishing feature (aside from the game’s fast turns) is hard checking.
It’s not enough to have a good first pass to play under Örebro’s pressure, you have to have at least two good passes and Skelleftea managed that very rarely.
Örebro was clinical in the pressure.
Skellefteå clearly fails to be able to get out of it.
Instead, they started bouncing the ball past the rims and Örebro’s second goal was a typical example of what that could look like.
Skellefteå had two chances to get the puck out to no avail. Instead, the pinch ended up with the uncannily talented Leo Carlson, 18, who quickly maneuvered free JVM Pole Milton Oscarson, 20, and was quick-thinking and unique.
Looks like when Skellefteå was at her best
The first goal was also beautiful in all its simplicity. A little ABC of hockey when it comes to solving opponent overload. Play from the corner, then play back and control.
The fact that it now took Arvid Lundberg’s rear rather than Milton Oscarson’s club is actually of academic interest.
After a temporary promotion at the start of Skellefteå’s middle period, Örebro took charge again.
It was closer to 3-0 and 4-0 than 2-1.
So the reception came in the third period but who did the home team decide in overtime?
Well, one in the qualifiers so far completely scoreless Matthias Broome.
Tonight’s match was the biggest so far in Örebro’s history.
However, this may just be the beginning of something much bigger.
Skellefteå can take the end of the game with them but it has to be better than 60 minutes. better with imp. Hotter and more passion.
If Robert Ohlsson does not find a solution to this already on Wednesday, there will soon be terminal fever in Örebro.
Evening newspaper