There is no doubt which team can call itself the best in Skåne for the moment.
After a second straight derby win against Malmö, Rögle also consolidates its second place in the SHL table.
The Ängelholm team started the match at a furious pace and bit into the offensive zone. The reward came after just seven minutes of play through Leon Bristedt.
Penalty miss
Malmö did not give up, however, and fought back. 1–1 came after a tangled situation where Joona Ikonen could rake in the puck. American Paul LaDue, however, ensured that Rögle responded immediately and could go to the first break in a 2–1 lead.
The second period was just as eventful. Veteran Robin Hanzl missed a penalty for Malmö, which, however, equalized to 2–2 shortly thereafter.
Then Leon Bristedt stepped into action again. With only five seconds left of the period, he set his second for the evening to 3–2.
"Damn good pressure"
When Lubos Horky set the 4–2 goal with ten minutes left of the third period, many probably thought the derby was settled. Malmö created nerves in the whole, however, with a late reduction and pushed for an equalizer. Then Rögle's Calvin de Haan lifted the puck into the empty net to the final result 5–3.
We don't quite reach our standard. But we find a way to win. That's what makes good teams, says double goal scorer Bristedt to TV4 Play and continues:
I like our first period, we create a damn good pressure and really flood Malmö. Then we get a little comfortable and slow down the pace. But we hold out.
Continued crisis
Elsewhere, Frölunda continues to steam on in the series lead, while the crisis for the bottom team HV71 becomes increasingly deep. Frölunda was able to bring home three points after goals by Finns Arttu Ruotsalainen and Jere Innala to 2–1.
In Stockholm, Djurgården got a dream start at home against Örebro. In 19 seconds, the home team made two goals.
Örebro, however, ate their way back into the match and turned it to 3–2, but the goal-rich event was not over there, and the home team did not give up. Goals by Norwegians Emilio Pettersen and Havard Salsten ensured that Djurgården turned the match back, which finally ended 5–3 after Colby Sissons set the last puck in the net.
