Is Frölunda chewing on Farjestad?
Yes, that’s the feeling of an afternoon in Karlstad.
Now there are many indications that this will be decided on Monday.
Frölunda got the ball of the match after winning 2-1 and they did it by showing strength in the Löfbergs Arena. In the last two matches, this series of matches has turned emphatically into Gothenburg.
Färjestad only managed to score one goal, not one out of five on five. Frölunda’s machine has pushed Färjestad down the pavement and if Tomas Mitell can’t conjure it up, the feeling is that both shoulders will be pushed down on the ice on Monday.
And enough hope Vargestad if Theodor Linström can come back in that time, it’s a huge thing.
Löfbergs Arena on Saturday afternoon is in the middle of a playoff run between these two teams. Yes, there are definitely dull places to be. The presence of 8250 on the site, of course, falls under the notion of an axiom
If you Google “really good hockey playoff,” this playoff series will definitely come up.
Because here are two teams that really bring out the best in each other: pace, intensity and physicality. And now, Frölunda is doing even better.
There were many question marks
A slight snowstorm gathered on the way to Karlstad and swept a bit around Färjestad too after the 0-5 defeat in Scandinavia.
There were definitely some question marks surrounding Thomas Mittel’s team:
How will Färjestad fare after overtaking in Scandinavia last time?
How will Matt Tomkins recover after a difficult Thursday?
How will the team cope with another match without its star defender, Phil Boca, not least Theodore Linstrom?
Then he played power, only one goal in the first four games.
If we start with the latter, Joel Nystrom scared that bogey after 13.54 when he hit the goal in this particular form of play, after the departure of Jan Mursack.
Färjestad did not quite unexpectedly emerge as a different team than it did two days ago in Gothenburg.
So did Matt Tomkins, who got off to a good start with a block from a free position after less than two minutes. Then he performed as stable as possible in the other stances that Frölunda had created. Tomkins was probably Färjestad’s best player.
Boca and Linstrom were missing
Frölunda was far from finished in the first period, on the contrary Roger Rönnberg’s team was very good in the first 20 minutes. Create more scoring chances in five-on-five and more hot situations.
Then we also enter the absence of Boca and Linstrom. It’s no secret that without these two Olympic running backs, Färjestad’s backside is inexperienced and a bit fragile. After the back duo of Nystrom/Davidson, Bergqvist and Thornberg came from Allsvenskan. Lindroth and Joransson did not want Linköping and Leksund to stay.
Frölunda of course is not stupider than he does everything to exploit him by applying stronger pressure than they usually do.
Andreas Borgmann got into the series again with a leg-less tackle in Game 1. He started off with a Ryan Lash free and was really good throughout the match. Having Borgmann on the right side of the team gives Frölundas self-confidence and top-class play from behind.
Frölunda’s response came midway through the period, also in a power play. Or yes, three seconds after Max Lindroth was on the ice, Anthony Greco scored a 1-1.
Nothing helped Verestad
Frölunda’s dominance continued into the middle period. In fact, I don’t remember one really good scoring opportunity for the home team. There are some offensive gears that happen very little. Linus Johansson and Joachim Nygaard are feeling very lonely.
In addition, the guests were helped by three power plays, but Färjestad’s ejection was also the result of being one step behind in many situations.
As soon as Brandon Davidson came from the penalty area, he drove on the Andreas Borgmann defense and got two minutes.
Video reviewed case, but I think the judges made the right decision.
Borgmann was also able to play after first remaining on the ice and then going to the locker room for a medical.
It didn’t help with the amount of boos the crowd let loose, Färjestad had difficulty getting out of their area in a controlled fashion, but instead got bogged down and had to hit the ice. Thomas Mittel took a time out, but nothing helped.
2-1 came in the end, Jacob Nelson pushed in the rebound.
Only in the final minutes was there a little push from Färjestad.
On Monday it’s time again, then in Gothenburg.
Frölunda has a match ball and great scoring chances.