The SM final series is swinging back and forth.
Since Brynäs was knocked out and won in Luleå on Saturday, the Norrlanders did the same in the fifth final in Gävle on Monday evening.
Not without difficulties, though.
3–0 before the last period became 3–2 – and drama before Luleå took off again.
Now Luleå has 3–2 in matches and can decide on home ground on Thursday.
Three years ago, Luleå was in a similar situation.
Then, against Färjestad, the team also had 3–2 in matches, lost the sixth match away in Karlstad and was shut out in the seventh and decisive one at home.
"Go out and enjoy"
The gold party was blown away and a whole city – which had been longing for SM gold since the only one in 1996 – was disappointed.
It's going to be fun, now we've got a match ball and we're going to take it. We're meeting a good team, so you have to be humble, but the city is going to boil, says Linus Omark, who scored one of the goals, his fifth full hit in the playoffs and the second in the final series.
What do you do to handle the situation?
It's just to go out and enjoy and play hockey, you don't get chances like this many times in your career. We're going to slam in the match ball, says Omark, who the year after the gold miss against Färjestad became Swiss champion with Genève-Servette.
He has also won World Championship gold with Tre Kronor in 2017.
But never an SM gold with his heart's team, and this might be the last chance for the 38-year-old, who has an expiring contract.
Demanding suspension
Linus Omark was upset over a situation that he considered a slewfoot from Brynäs defender Victor Söderström on Luleå's Brian O'Neill in the second period.
In TV4, Omark demanded that Söderström be suspended for the rest of the final series.
He elaborates later:
I've been through something like that myself, I broke my wrist and flew into the boards and missed more than half a season. I expect nothing else than that something happens, he says, addressing the disciplinary committee.
Victor Söderström tells Aftonbladet:
I don't agree. I don't know what to say. We go into a clinch and he falls, but I don't think it's more than that.
Corrected: In an earlier version, the wrong Luleå player was named. Correct is Brian O'Neill.
Final 1: Brynäs–Luleå 2–1 after overtime.
Final 2: Brynäs–Luleå 2–5.
Final 3: Luleå–Brynäs 5–1.
Final 4: Luleå–Brynäs 3–5.
Final 5: Brynäs–Luleå 2–6.
Final 6, May 1: Luleå–Brynäs (14.00).
Ev final 7, May 3: Brynäs–Luleå (15.15).
