“The stars of Frölunda showed how powerful they are” • Mats Wennerholm column

I was on the verge of disqualifying Frölunda after another miserable first period against Leksand, and it felt like a storm was about to erupt around Roger Röneberg.

Then the wind turned.

A 0-1 deficit turned into a 5-2 win and Frölunda’s stars showed just how tough they are.

It’s been said that it will take time for the “new” Frölunda to transition into the costume, but I don’t understand that talk at all.

This applies to most teams in the SHL, as Frölunda’s rebuild is not extreme by any means by comparison.

But there was extra focus on Frölunda in particular before the new season, when Joel Lundqvist resigned after eternity as captain and face of the club.

But it took a full game against Timra and another scoreless first period, before the new star players introduced themselves against the sold-out Scandinavians.

The first cheer at home came when Christian Volin sent a puck towards the goal and it took Karl Klingberg and a play before it found its way behind Mantis Armalis six minutes later.

A bad goal was the key to the turnaround.

Three minutes later, new defender Linus Hojbjerg (from Skellefteå) played a brilliant opening pass to Linus Nässén, who raced up and beat Isac Born on the rebound inside an empty box.

There was a pause when Marek Hrevik equalized for Leksand after a counter-attack and a dream pass from Oscar Lange.

But team captain Max Freiberg responded with a wonderful goal when he sent the ball over the far crossbar at 15:44 of the middle of the first half.

Even Frolunda’s zero numerical superiority was shattered when Marek Hrvik came out for the second time at the start of the final period.

Karl Klingberg scored the second goal of the season with numerical superiority when he shot a loose ball in front of the penalty area.

A typical Joel Lundqvist goal if I had to compare it to anything.

The score was 4-2 in favor of Frölunda at the same time that Gothenburg was quiet.

Seven minutes later, it was time for Henrik Tomernes to show how tough he was, as he fed Max Freberg a perfect pass to make it 5-2.

Frölunda’s new stars have performed well and the home audience can go home happy.

But Frölunda’s first half was miserable, just like against Timrå last time when they were 3-0 down after twenty minutes and lost the game there.

It felt like it was starting to go down a storm in Gothenburg after a new pale opening period and conceding another goal out of numerical superiority.

Much of the preseason talk was about Frölunda’s strong play, which was the worst in the entire SHL last year despite Ryans Lasch’s wrists and Joel Lundqvist’s power in front of opposing goals.

Now he will cruise with Henrik Tömmernes as leader, sharp blue shooters like Jere Innala and Malte Strömwall and the powerful Gustav Rydahl as the new wall brake.

Now came a new showing in an otherwise completely uneventful five-to-four affair, after Lukas Vigdimo conceded a match-winning penalty after pushing Isaac Haines head-high towards the edge of the box.

Against Timrå, it only took 21 seconds before Magnus Pääjärvi registered a numerical advantage, after Henrik Tömmernes had missed the attacking blue.

It was unfortunate

So, I was very excited about what the Gothenburg natives would offer their audience in Scandinavia.

so what happened?

It took 38 seconds before Marek Hrevik scored for Leksand, after Malte Stromwall put in an errant pass in his own area and opened the door for the Slovakian.

And it didn’t end there.

Sami Hrvik scored another second just fourteen seconds after the goal, when he passed goalkeeper Lasse Johansson.

Frölunda had to play five-on-three for a full two minutes, without a single slap occurring.

It was unfortunate to say the least, and I did not see the smoke coming from conductor Henrik Tomerne’s baton.

Despite PP’s first goal in the third period, Frölunda still led 1-2 on goals per game.

But it can also be considered an asset.

It could hardly get worse.

It was a great atmosphere at the Scandinavian Stadium, with thousands of white-clad Sands fans in the stands.

You still have to give them to Lexand.

They have amazing support and leave no one untouched.

But not having points and conceding ten goals after playing two matches is the worst possible start for a weak, injury-plagued and defeated Leksand team.

The early crisis was evident when the team locked itself in the locker room after the match.

Now two new tough matches await us next week, as Rogel host top seeds at home on Thursday and then Linkoping away on Saturday.

Linköping, who beat Oscarshamn 4-1 in the second afternoon match and who made it two victories in a row after defeating HV71 on penalties in the first show.

Goalkeeper Marcus Hojbjerg kept clean sheets both times.

No, there will likely be some sleepless nights for Lexand fans in the future.