On November 23, HV71 lost their sixth straight match against Färjestad with a whole 2–7. Since then, the team has won match after match – until now.
On Boxing Day, Luleå broke the winning streak, after winning 4–3 in overtime.
But it could have ended differently.
Disallowed goal
In the beginning of the second period, the home team was affected by a delayed penalty. Therefore, Luleå chose to pull the goalie, to play one man more until the next whistle. But then the storm broke loose.
Luleå's Anton Levtchi tapped the puck into his own goal after being heavily pressured by Jonathan Ang – but the goal was disallowed. The home crowd became furious and the whistle chorus reached new heights after the replays showed that Ang never touched the puck.
I don't really know, it's clear that I think it should be a goal. Had he nudged him and hit the puck himself or nudged Levtchi so that he hits the puck, then maybe it shouldn't be a goal. But I think that belongs, said HV's team captain Olle Alsing in TV4's broadcast.
One point to safe ground
Instead, HV managed to break the goal drought in the end of the second period, when Joonas Luoto pushed in the equalizer.
And thereafter it remained even. After two goals each in the third period, the match went to overtime, where Luleå emerged victorious when Brendan Shinnimin scored the winner.
But despite the loss, HV71 is approaching safe ground in SHL. After Linköping lost to Frölunda with 2–5, the gap to the 12th place is only one point. For Luleå, the win means that the team retains its third place.
