Welcome to Allsvenskan Hockey, Brynas.
Thirteen local teams want nothing more than to win when the old champions visit.
Now it was Västerås who stood in front of a sold-out ABB arena and struck the first blows.
It produced a historic first drop point and leads a falling series.
Now Brenas won in the end since Anton Rudin decided in the mud, but I wouldn’t have protested if the Vestmanlanders won this in the end.
Their catch was impressive and Brennas got there in the end.
They will be many times.
Just look at the table after playing two rounds.
Newcomer Nybro tops the table and I can only imagine what they will look like there when Brynäs makes their first visit there in the fall.
It will boil there in the glass kingdom.
It’s a dream for Småland fans, which could quickly turn into a nightmare for the greats from Gävle.
It’s one of coach Niklas Galstedt’s biggest tasks this season.
The first real test in the series
Keeping the team on their toes as they get off the bus in places Brennas has never had to visit before and some of the teams they have faced during Hedenhös’ tenure.
They now come out for their first away game this evening in front of a sold out house and 4,380 fans at the ABB Arena.
I was expecting them to be given their first real test against a top team like Västerås with the home team’s fans behind them.
And it was.
It’s just getting used to it.
In Västerås, it is true that there is no note on the door several times during the season, but this evening there was not an empty seat.
However, Brienas started so well, that I was ready to break the match by technical knockout after one period.
A shaky Västerås team barely had to borrow the puck in the first period and Brynäs chewed up every puck that came his way.
When successful youngster Noah Nord stood in front of the penalty area and took a 1-0 lead after just over five minutes, it made more than enough sense after Perenas had parked in the attacking area straight from the drop.
Vasteras woke up
Västmanlänningar stood up shortly after the goal and created several scoring chances, but then Brynäs took over again.
The score was close to 2-0 several times, before Jack Kubaka converted the penalty from an open position on the left wing.
He then passed to a perfectly clean Linus Olunds in front of goal and it was 3-0 with 13.51 on the clock.
I understand that Viesteras coach Karl Helmersson took some time with this situation.
He had to find some way to stop the bleeding.
It went like this and he needed a break to wake up the team.
But when they woke up.
Fullback Eric Flood actually cut the advantage to 1.38 in the second half and that was exactly what the game needed.
Sure, Latvia’s Mix Endres brought Prenas’ win to 4-1 about halfway through the half, but even that wasn’t enough.
Now Kalle Luponen cut it to 4-2 before the end of the middle period.
And in the third period, Västerås exploded with two quick goals in the space of eighteen seconds early in the third period, when both Shane Gersic and Kyle Topping found holes under the arm of Anders Lindback in Brinaskasen.
It was 4-4.
Larsson and Scott will be needed
Now Brinas eventually salvaged the win, when Vesteras made a stupid substitution in extra time, the visitors came three to one and Anton Rudin was able to stand and shoot for good before sending the decisive score at 5-4.
At home in the old Gavlerinken, I don’t think Brynäs will have any problems this season, but it is precisely those trips to unknown territory that could cost more points this winter.
At the same time, the team has achieved two consecutive victories without team captain and senior center Johan Larsson on the ice.
Canadian Greg Scott has not joined the team yet.
But something tells me they will be needed.
Djurgården had that threat away from home, when they dropped points against Västervik and Kevin Karlsson was able to take the 3-2 decision for the first time in extra time.
Another big club that everyone wants to beat.
Nibro, W.
What a start for coach Tommy Samuelsson and his Småland gang.
The fact that they beat Tingsried in their opener may not have been a big deal, but the 3-1 win away to Mura is impressive.
The sheep warned Nibro even before the season started.
They will shock more teams.