A really hot rivalry meeting, where one of the teams found themselves on safe ground before the game, while the other was on a qualifying spot. Add to that the home team Linköping has a new coach in the form of Anders "Ante" Karlsson.
It was set up for a real showdown when Linköping hosted HV71 in the SHL ice hockey struggle. And that's exactly what it became.
During two periods, the teams exchanged both two-minute penalties and goals with each other. And before the final period, HV71's team captain, Olle Alsing, could only describe it in one way on TV4 Play.
Chaotic. It's full speed out there.
"It's rolling on"
Alsing could at least summarize it all with a smile on his lips. At the end of the second period, HV71 had taken control of the match with three quick goals to a 5–3 lead. One of them was scored by Alsing himself.
The surge would also be enough for the team's seventh win in their last eight matches. The final score was 6–4 to HV71 after a concluding goal in an empty net by Henrik Borgström.
We've been more consistent lately. We know we have a good team over 60 minutes. So now it feels like it's rolling on, says Jonathan Ang.
Six straight losses
This win is likely to be a bit sweeter than the previous ones.
The three-pointer means that the Jönköping team is above the qualifying line again for the first time since mid-October.
It's enormous. It motivates us, and we never want to be in that position again, says Ang.
On the other hand, it's worse for Linköping and new coach "Ante" Karlsson. Linköping is the new second-to-last team after 28 rounds and has now lost six straight games.
