Eight SHL teams – among them Frölunda and Linköping – have changed coaches before the season.
In the end, it was Robert Ohlsson – who took over after twelve years of Roger Rönnberg in Frölunda – who got to take home a three-pointer, while Linköping's Mikael Håkanson got to start his career as head coach with a loss.
The decisive moment came when Linköping's goalkeeper Jesper Myrenberg received a penalty halfway through the middle period. Frölunda took their time, but then found an opportunity where Arttu Ruotsalainen direct-shot in the 2-1 goal.
New acquisition equalized
However, it took a while before the fully attended season premiere in Scandinavium really heated up.
Frölunda took the lead after just a few minutes, when Max Friberg spun up Linköping's defense and gave Jacob Peterson more or less an open goal.
But despite a certain Frölunda dominance, Linköping equalized almost immediately in the middle period, in a numerical superiority where the new acquisition Fredrik Karlström poked in 1-1.
After that, I think it's a mental struggle, it's a cold shower there, says Robert Ohlsson.
We don't get our game to click at all. But I'm very pleased with the first period and very pleased with Lasse's (Johansson) goalkeeper play.
Seven in a row
Even Jesper Myrenberg in Linköping's goal made a great play. Despite this, Linköping, which had six straight losses in the regular season against Frölunda, went on to a seventh defeat in Saturday's premiere.
But it was still a loss with a good taste, notes Mikael Håkanson after the final forcing.
It felt at the end like it could have been a different result, he says.
And yes. For example, Ty Rattie was incredibly close to a goal – but hit the post. But in the end, time ran out for the equalization hunt.
It's of course super sour to lose, but there's a lot of positive to take with you, says the defensive star Theodor Lennström, who played his first match after returning from the Swiss league.
Frölunda is a top tip from many and we make a great game against them. So there's a lot to build on.
