AIK has argued and fought its way through the last stint against Modo.
After a call from coach Anton Blomqvist.
– We’ll look into it, says Hockey Allsvenskan’s chief referee, Bjorn Wettergren.
AIK coach Anton Blomqvist decided on a new tactic when Modu led 5-1 early in the third period.
Blomqvist took a time-out with a quarter left to play and received a call from his players.
Every time we hit, we hit. We probably won’t win this game now, so let’s play dirty. Play dirty here, Blomkfist even Sina Spillar.
Blomqvist then turned to Swedish for additional instructions.
Play dirty, play dirty! no shutdown. Play dirty!
41 minutes sent off
AIK players were loyal to their coach.
19 seconds after Anton Blomqvist timed out, a fight ensued in which two players from each team were sent off and the final period continued in the same spirit.
AIK had a total of eight disposals within two minutes and failed to avoid match penalties. Eric Nordin slanted Oscar Peterson and was sent off for 5+20 minutes.
In total, AIK incurred 41 minutes of ejection after Anton Blomqvist ordered. And Blomqvist himself suffered the last time when he complained about the penultimate dismissal and was punished for “ill-treatment of officials.”
At the same time that the expulsion was welcomed, there were also other targets. Modu wins 8-3 and leads the Hockey Allsvenskan quarterfinal series 3-2.
AIK should be reviewed
Hockeyallsvenskan’s head referee, Björn Wettergren, says AIK’s actions will be reviewed.
– I was there at the match and therefore didn’t hear what was said in the AIK timeout, but he told me that and as with everything else out of the ordinary, so to speak, it’s something we’ll look into next. Then we’ll see what it leads to.
What could it lead to?
– I don’t want to speculate now. But we’ll look into it.
Modo’s Sebastian Olsson was suspicious of AIK’s tactics – which was clearly notable.
– Of course we knew about it. If this is what their coach wants to focus on and send to his players, then let him do it. But that’s not how we play anyway, says Ohlsson in C More.