New bridge. Brynä’s winning streak will continue in Nybro.
Instead, Gävle enjoyed a Finnish evening at Liljas Arena.
And with that we welcome Brenas to Allsvenskan.
Liljas Arena (nicest name for a sponsor-owned arena?) sold out to last place, 2,380 – plus a few more…
Before 20 minutes had passed, the announcer said:
“We say as we usually do: Take a step toward the middle, toward your neighbor, and we will usher in the people waiting outside.”
Those of us who have been there before can feel nostalgic for less.
Liljas Arena responded by collectively shouting: “We love Nibro.”
Even Småland’s October rain couldn’t put out any hockey fires this evening.
Outside there were beer tents and the ‘parking lot’ looked like an ant war. There were cars everywhere, and even the most zealous law enforcement officer didn’t have time to fine all the wrongly parked cars.
Things move fast in hockey.
About a year ago, Brinas played in the SHL and Nybro fired coach Mikael Tissel, after four straight defeats in Hokiitan.
Tonight, the two teams met in an early summit encounter in the Allsvenskan Championship: first place Nybro vs. second place Prinas.
It started out a little shaky
Nibro won 4-1, inflicting Breenas with his first loss.
Now the newcomer (with two more matches to play) has a five-point lead over Brinas
As I write this seconds after the final whistle, I feel as if the entire arena is about to collapse.
Before relegation, three of the qualifying champions who were not allowed promotion to the Swedish top flight were celebrated: Robin Vingdahl, team captain Erik Lindström, and Viktor Poulin, who “scored the decisive goal against Kalmar”.
About 30 seasons together for the Nybro Vikings.
It was much worse.
Full and great expectations and a visit to the great club.
At first, it felt like the Vikings were nervous.
The home team played solidly in their own zone, and once they got out of there, they lost the ball in the wrong places, read: the midfield and on the offensive blue line.
Maxim Judd was faltering running the hip slots and his backcheck was almost non-existent. Even the usually calm Tommy Samuelson was angry.
There’s a lot to like about Nybro
But it got better.
Already in the second half of the first period, Nybro was fully on his toes with the thirteen-time SM gold medalist.
It is true that he only had three shots on Anders Lindback, but the chances created by Nybro were sharp.
Aside from when Brynä’s first series was on the ice, Nybro had good control of Gävlegänget.
And on the shots that came, Tex Williamson looked like a million Pingolotos, as he did all game long.
There is a lot to like about the newcomer to Småland. Not least of which is how Tommy Samuelson left his mark on the team. The way you constantly help and support each other on the ice bears the hallmark of an experienced coach.
There is a calmness and methodology that will go a long way.
The roof has been raised at Lilja Arena
Lillafartmonstret Juho Liuksiala and stora Marko Anttila copy Janne Väyrynen ställde fråg.
However, the visitors took the lead from Gävle when Nybro pushed forward aggressively in the attacking zone. Brynäs made the save and Tyler Kelleher dribble the puck high for an open goal for a Vesel tag.
But the answer came quickly first, Ero Savalati burning a free position before playing Leoxiala into the open goal a second later.
The Liljas arena has reached boiling point.
A moment later, Vairinen made it 2-1.
Then raise the roof in Liljas Arena.
Nibro took just seven shots in the first two periods but didn’t need to apologize for the win for a second.
And when the referees, with 2.40 minutes remaining in the first half, asked for help from Stockholm if Kasper Larsen got five minutes for an elbow tackle (the on-ice decision was five), they were greeted with a black TV screen and the message that they had no contact with Stockholm.
I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if some neobrite cuts the cable…
This is what happens on a drunken Friday night in Nebiru.
This will be Brenna’s daily life in the future
Without the injured Linus Hollande, the suspended Johan Larsson, and a well-coached Greg Scott, Brenna’s attacking force will be severely weakened.
Now they were also surprisingly vulnerable in front of their own goal and rarely got into the hot zone in front of Tex Williamson.
They also had to work five minutes in the box at the end of the second period and the beginning of the third period.
Once that was done, Jesper Kandergaard took a 3-1 lead.
Brenas suffered his first loss in the Allsvenskan tournament and already on Sunday Tingsryd awaits a sure shot at an equally seething Nelson Garden. The honeymoon is over. This is what the next months will look like for the Gävle team. Game of the Year for the home team wherever they come from.
Nybro is a newcomer who is easy to like.
Liljas Arena is a great ice skating rink.
I would be more than happy to return.