For the third year in a row, Luleå and Växjö meet in the quarterfinals of the Swedish Championship playoffs in ice hockey. It's a match series many believe will be even, gritty, and tight defensively.
And in the absence of the offensive creators (Linus Omark was missing in Luleå and Robert Rosén in Växjö), the match was long goalless.
It would take an invitation from Växjö defender Elias Rosén at the beginning of the second act for Albin Lundin to be able to break the goal deadlock for Luleå.
"Bloody unnecessary"
If there was a long lack of goals, there was no lack of emotions. In the end, everything would boil over for Småland team's Erik Martinsson. After the signal for the period break, the defender was seen sending the knob of the club into the stomach of Luleå's Isac Hedqvist, who was left lying. The situation was video-reviewed and Martinsson received a match penalty for the offense.
I'm going in on him a bit after the signal. But it's bloody unnecessary of him, says Hedqvist to TV4 about the incident.
Afterwards, the Växjö defender made signs that Hedqvist was filming.
He knows what he's done, so nothing I take to heart anyway, says the young Luleå forward.
Växjö coach Jörgen Jönsson:
That (incident) I have no comments on. I'll talk to him later, he says to TV4.
After the brain fade, five minutes of power play awaited Luleå – which, just over two minutes into the numerical superiority, made it 2–0 through Pontus Andreasson.
"Too many penalties"
Then the hot emotions continued, with scuffles breaking out several times. Not least at the final signal, when players grabbed each other all over the ice, after Luleå's Markus Nurmi shot a slapshot after the signal sounded. Something that resulted in further match penalties.
We're playing a good game, good pace, and have a lot of people on goal, says Hedqvist after the 4–0 win.
They have very little focus on their game, but more on being physical. Which is good for us, he continues.
Less pleased was Jörgen Jönsson.
Far too many penalties. Tough to play so much boxplay. Not a match we wanted to have. But we have the chance again in two days.
In the parallel quarterfinal, Brynäs were huge favorites. And the series winner from Gävle would withstand the pressure with a 5–1 win at home against Malmö.
