Växjö won the seventh game with a score of 2-1 against Luleå and advanced to the semi-finals.
And in a way, it seems only right that the series’ victories continue against a team that got a chance through 10th place.
But I will probably never forget Lulea’s heroic effort in the quarter-finals.
All credit to Bulan & Co who never gave up.
In the end, Thomas “Bolan” Berglund barely had a full squad to put on the ice, but they nonetheless pushed Växjö to the line even in this seventh and quite decisive game.
And if I’m going to find any champions after this quarter-final, it will be at Lulea’s loss.
Joel Lasenante in the penalty area and two backs as Erik Gustafsson and Oskar Engsund.
For example but not limited to.
They fought to the end.
Växjö will have to wait for their champions after coming out of this battle as winners, but without playing too well.
But it’s only right that the winners of the series advance to the semi-finals, as Skelleftea has already finished runner-up.
Historically, it is the first and second series that also take SM gold.
Seven times out of ten they end this way.
This time the top four teams may have made it to the semi-finals, if Färjestad wins their seventh match against Frölunda and Örebro against Timrå on Wednesday.
become a scapegoat
Then it goes as usual, all equal matches though.
And the sixth-placed team with a chance to advance is Frölunda, which still makes me think the table never lies.
You shouldn’t do that after 52 rounds either.
Same match then?
Yes, Växjö took an early lead, when Joel Persson found a perfectly clean Joachim Blichfeld right after the winning equalizer and the Dane scored a fine 1-0 for Växjö.
Then there were only two minutes left in the period and I thought Smålands would go into halftime with a lead.
But the answer came instantly.
Niklas Olsson was released after just half a minute and pulled away Emile Larmie as if he had perhaps never pulled a goalkeeper before.
When he finished, all he had to do was put the disc into the empty basket.
The score was 1-1 just 26 seconds after Småland’s rookie goal.
It was Lulea’s second shot on goal, which says something about how much they made progress in a period where Växjö scored nine.
The second period barely had time to start before Växjö’s Martin Lundberg finished off and Lulia Julius Honka emerged in a real wrestling match on the long edge.
Then it got really annoying, after an unexpectedly quiet first period.
Then came the decisive sequence after 6.58.
Lulea initially had a great situation, and it came two goals to nil, but Emile Larmey saved it.
Then Brendan Shenemin – who’s the other one – entered the situation late and stabbed a throwing glove.
Instead of a goal, it was two minutes and then Växjö scored 2-1.
Kali Fusilla performed in Olausson’s row, before presenting Robert Rosen with an open box.
The match was quite a decider and Luleå didn’t get close to a post shot in the dying seconds.
Scapegoat?
Brendan Shinnimin, who managed to get a starring role in this match as well and against his old club.
This series of matches wasn’t the best out there, but it had other ingredients that made it memorable. Mostly because it was David against Goliath.
At the same time, I’ve always objected to the SHL handing out wild cards to teams ninth and tenth in the standings and giving them the chance to get to the quarterfinals they didn’t really deserve after 52 rounds.
This time they both advanced too, with Rogl ninth off Leksand eighth and Luleja seventh off Oskarshamn.
I can’t get past the fact that it dilutes the value of a long canonical string.
Then you might wonder what the point of that would be, more than providing a longer break between the regular season and playoff games, and giving the worst teams in the playoffs a few extra games.
And when it comes to the quarter-finals, only Malmö has won the round of 16 and advanced.
Only one team out of 18 got the chance.
It seems the time has come to abolish this system.
Despite what Lulia did this time.