Just one red card and one goal in 60 minutes – and you too can win a play-off.
Frölunda came to Växjö, built a wall around Lars Johansson and left with a very important victory.
Personally, I increasingly admire a Frölunda veteran whose name is neither Lars nor Joel.
I wouldn’t say that Frölunda and Lasse Johansson put on robber’s hats and won. Over the course of 60 minutes, Växjö didn’t quite reach the level they wanted, but Frölunda’s time in the attacking zone got less and less the longer the game went on.
Now the goal was enough to win 1-0 and get a 2-1 lead in the matches.
While waiting for match weather, there was another outing to a new arena in the freezing cold. While you wait for the south wind, warm up with a game of first class hockey and it could be worse.
At Vida Arena, heel leader Kofi Mathison made another attempt to demolish his vocal cords. And they seemed to be holding this time, too.
An attendance of 5,750 means another yard sellout for this playoff.
If the second semi-final between Skellefteå and Örebro was a Formula 1 race, then at first this was more like a chess match.
Patience and taking care of the goblin were the keywords in the first period.
Växjö has never changed the way it plays, but Frölunda has adapted its game to Växjö.
Roger Ronberg’s team did well in the beginning. His composure and quality of playing with the puck impressed.
Ryan Lash both ways
Växjö was further out of doubt and five minutes later the home team revealed themselves.
Hardy Hamann Aktel dribbled the ball, Andreas Borgmann curled it in and headed Ryan Lash open.
The American, who broke a clean sheet last time, suddenly seems to think that hockey is more fun.
But there are easier things to tackle than challenging Växjö in their ring corner.
After a somewhat questionable ejection on Max Friberg, Växjö took over the period and created more in the final six minutes of the first period than in the first 14.
Ryan Lash doesn’t just score again. It also delivers in the other direction. Not least when he frantically checked back and prevented Ludwig Nilsson from scoring the equaliser.
His goal five minutes later was the only one of the match.
Frölunda played with a lot of people in the hot spot in front of Lars Johansson’s goal cage.
There were no openings in the form of a power play either. Max Friberg’s ejection was the only one in the whole match.
Indeed, there was nothing wrong with being entertained, and no one need doubt that these two teams are skillful. There was no shortage of opportunities in the middle of the period either.
Joachim Bleachfield has an open position. Dan Sexton, hit the post. Number Fifteen Sexton and his chain felt involved in most of what happened.
Loui Eriksson is very important to Frölunda
But with only one goal (none for the home team), relatively little physical play and only one power play after 60 minutes. Yes, then it is difficult to evoke the right energy both in the arena and in the match itself.
But it was fun and exciting – and there’s a lot in the pot.
Sam Hallam was there, and the Confederacy captain at best is starting to make the next World Cup lineup. After speaking for a while with Hallam, I wouldn’t be surprised if Linus Johansson was in Tampere.
The third period was much like the second. Växjö pressed on and created some chances, but Frölunda trusted Lasse Johansson and focused on getting his second pucks.
Roger Ronberg wasn’t entirely satisfied with the match’s image, but he was still satisfied with the outcome.
– I’m more comfortable with the fact that the boys trust their guard so much that they put them on defense for the entire period with a lead of 1-0. Regardless of whether I say we have to move on and score the next goal, they screwed up and trusted Lasse. And he plays a pretty old-fashioned bit on the lead.
The importance of Lars Johansson and Joel Lundqvist to Frölunda is rightly highlighted.
But Loui Eriksson’s importance to Frölunda should certainly not be underestimated. I get more and more moved every time I see the NHL veteran in this playoff game. After nearly 20 years on a junior rink and at the age of 37, coming home and playing top level SHL hockey isn’t something everyone can handle. Louis Erickson certainly does and shines with his wisdom and wit.