Åslund back after seven weeks: "A real blow"

In late November, he collided with Leksand's Patrick Zackrisson and suffered a concussion and facial fractures.

Since then, there has been rest and no matches on the schedule for Färjestad's Per Åslund.

After nearly seven weeks, he was ready to play again.

It's been a pretty long break before you could get going properly. There's been a lot of skating and a lot of training, he says to TV4 Play.

When you're out, you miss hockey even more. You just want to get on the ice and help the guys and contribute.

Away against HV71, he also played his 800th match in SHL.

He has done fantastically much for this club and has played 15 or 16 seasons or something like that. He might not get a nice welcome in Jönköping, but hopefully here on Saturday against Frölunda, said Färjestad coach Tomas Mitell before the match, to the club's website.

Färjestad got a dream finish to the first period in Husqvarna Garden. Joakim Nygård scored 1–0 after 16.54 minutes and just over a minute later, Oskar Steen extended the visitors' lead.

A goal lead that ultimately disappeared and resulted in a 2–3 loss, as Joona Luoto scored HV71's winning goal with 1.23 minutes left of the match.