With ten goals and six assists so far, 26-year-old Pontus Andreasson is the entire hockey playoffs' scoring king.
In yesterday's late 5-2 win in Gävle, he scored early both 1-0 and set up 2-0. But the post-match talk was mostly about the tackle he received from Linus Ölund in the middle period.
You always get a little worried when you get a nasty hit, says the Bohuslän native.
Ölund was ejected for boarding for five minutes, but avoided a match penalty. Andreasson was taken care of in the locker room before returning, but then rested in the final period.
It was a precautionary measure. I wanted to rest, we led 4-0 and it felt good. It was nice to take it easy, says Andreasson.
Counting on playing on Wednesday
If the match had been tied and balanced, the player with number 96 on his back would have definitely played on, he believes.
So Pontus Andreasson is counting on being on the ice in the third SM final, at home in Luleå on Wednesday evening.
And after six quarterfinal goals against Växjö and three in the semifinal series against Frölunda, he enjoyed netting against Brynäs as well.
Really nice, fun to be in the protocol in the final too. Hope it continues, says Andreasson.
"Living for the playoffs"
Another of Luleå's goal scorers was Brendan Shinnimin. The Canadian scored the 3-0 goal and seemed to only be triggered by Brynäs' crowd chanting "film star" at him.
I just love it and live for the playoffs, it's great to not only get their team frustrated but the whole arena, says the 34-year-old.
At home in Norrbotten, he has the crowd on his side instead. That's not so bad either.
The atmosphere in our arena is pretty hostile even in the regular season, but in this playoff, they've taken it to another level. Several times it feels like the roof is going to collapse, we'll use that to our advantage, says Shinnimin.
And it's a much nicer feeling to head home with 1-1 in matches instead of 0-2.
It was tough to lose the first final in overtime, bouncing back was enormously important. Now it's best of five remaining, where we have three home games and they have two. But it will probably be a long series, which will likely be decided in the sixth or seventh match, says he.
Final 1: Brynäs–Luleå 2–1 (after sudden death).
Final 2: Brynäs–Luleå 2–5.
Final 3, April 23: Luleå–Brynäs (20.00).
Final 4, April 26: Luleå–Brynäs (15.15).
Final 5, April 28: Brynäs–Luleå (20.00).
Possible Final 6, May 1: Luleå–Brynäs (14.00).
Possible Final 7, May 3: Brynäs–Luleå (15.15).
