Timrå was pressured to win at home against Frölunda, so that the season wouldn't end.
That's not what happened.
Frölunda took home the sixth quarterfinal and secured their spot in the playoffs, after 4–2 in matches.
Thanks a lot to a certain 17-year-old.
"A huge stroke of luck"
Ivar Stenberg – little brother to Otto Stenberg who has played double World Junior Championship and now plays in North America – scored the game's first, and only, goal.
The 17-year-old offered delicate work in front of the goal when he steered in 1–0 in the first period.
But according to himself, it wasn't much skill behind the action.
I don't know how I experienced it (the goal). I tried to stand in front of the goal, and then I get a "tip" on the puck. A huge stroke of luck, but nice that it went in, he says in TV4 Play.
Stenberg has received a lot of trust during both the regular season and the playoffs, and the fact is that the goal wasn't his first in the match series, which is the 17-year-old's first senior playoffs ever.
It's incredibly fun. I don't want to do anything else right now, it's completely wonderful. We're getting more and more into it all the time, and it feels better and better for every match that goes.
Timrå did what they could to get a hold on goalkeeper Tobias Normann – the substitute for Lasse Johansson who was absent on Monday – but without succeeding.
It didn't get better when team captain Anton Lander was given a match penalty in the second period, after a knee tackle on Jacob Peterson.
In the semifinal, Frölunda awaits Luleå, who finished second in the regular season.
Färjestad eliminated – again
A bit later on Monday evening, the four semifinal teams were completed.
Skellefteå took home the sixth semifinal against Färjestad, after a long overtime.
The deciding goal came in the fifth period, when Richard Hugg snatched 2–1 in the slot, and shot regular season fifth-place team to the semifinal.
Thus, Färjestad, who was tipped by many before the season as the favorite for the gold, has been eliminated in the quarterfinals for three seasons in a row.
Of course, I'm super disappointed. Tough loss, as the match was also, says Tomas Mitell to TV4 Play and continues:
I think the guys should be proud, they've held together as a group and we've held together as an organization. But we're of course super disappointed.
For Skellefteå, regular season winner Brynäs now awaits, who defeated Malmö with 4–2 in matches.
