It takes seven games to separate Färjestad and Frölunda, after Varmlanders won 4-2 in Scandinavia.
And the real audience success continues in the SM playoffs.
A maximum of 60,882 spectators watched these first six matches and I think the Löfbergs Arena on Wednesday could have sold out two.
The game was a bit sparse with crowds in some places in the first quarter-final, but since then this play-off has seen quite a number of stadiums.
It is already possible to talk about the overall success.
And when, at the same time, Timra beat Örebro at home with a score of 4-3, we suddenly had a match seven out of three out of four in the quarterfinals, and we rushed further into the stadiums.
Public interest is high in Karlstad and Gothenburg
It is a historical record.
Never before have I reached the quarter-finals three times to the maximum seven matches.
The previous record is two, and the last time it happened was twelve years ago – in the 2011 qualifiers.
But nowhere is the public interest greater than in Karlstad and Gothenburg.
This rivalry has grown into a classic that no one wants to miss.
If you include Wednesday’s sold-out Löfbergs Arena, a total of 69,132 spectators will have watched this series of matches when it ends.
We will never know
How much would come if the yards were twice as big?
We’ll never know, but she would have passed the 100,000 mark for sure.
It’s one of the reasons you’re glad there are seven games, although I thought Frölunda would decide at home this evening.
They gave way to that after being thumped and 5-0 in their last home game and then breaking the trend and winning in Karlstad 2-1 last Saturday.
Then I thought Färjestad looked tired.
And when Värmlanders star Theodor Linström didn’t return, and Michael Lindqvist was missing, too, it felt like it was an asset to Guttenberg.
But the greatness of Färjestad is that others are constantly stepping up and lifting themselves up.
He says like Hardy Nelson
They have developed a certain habit in this injury-plagued season.
Now, trainer Thomas Mittel has also washed the backstrap pair and chains just as he is accustomed to do.
Usually with successful results.
But these are very small margins and I say as Hardy Nelson used to say.
You must have a lot of luck too.
Like when Färjestad took the early lead and the puck really bounced its way.
Or in the manner of Henrik Bjorklund.
He was in front of goal when the ball bounced off in an arc and Bjorklund got the club headed in with a shot.
Blank cash and early lead for Varjestad.
Färjestad then increased it to 2–0 early in the second, when Marcus Nilsson found Daniel Wicksten in front of the goal and the ball bounced straight over the goal line.
But Frölunda came back when Linus Näss+en entered a free position on the right wing 11.04 in the middle half.
The puck was knocked down hard by defender Axel Bergqvist, but he boxed Matt Tomkins and the puck slid between the shin guards.
Then Frolunda started strongly in the third period and Andreas Borgmann hit the crossbar before Finn Jerry Inala equalized to make it 2-2.
In this case, I felt like the match was about to turn around.
But Färjestad answered, when Joakim Nygård found Matthias Göransson completely empty in front of goal.
The defender, who had scored twice in the entire regular season, was now the one who decided the whole drama as he drove the ball past Lacey Johansson.
About to come back
Talk about the players who go the extra mile when it comes to Varjestad.
The 3-2 goal forced Roger Runeberg to pick off Lasse Johansson outside the penalty area and then came 4-2 also in an empty area through Victor Ejdsell.
And he was ready for a thrilling final showing in Karlstad on Wednesday, where last year’s gold-maker Theodor Linström came close to returning.
I don’t even dare say how it will end.
It feels quite open, even if the home turf speaks for the Varmlanders.
At the same time, I was treating Joel Lundqvist to go wide in his last playoff game.
Now it could be the last game he plays.
Temera also had another solid match when they beat Örebro 4-3 and forced a seventh game there as well.
Sold – 5800 – even there.
Timra who did like Lulea and made 1-3 to 3-3 in matches.