The Örnsköldsvik team took points for the eighth match in a row, their fifth win, and not only left the relegation zone but also climbed above the qualification line.
HV71 is the new bottom team and Linköping fell below the line after losing to Luleå at home.
It's the first time since October 10 that Modo hasn't been below the qualification line.
It's incredibly nice to be able to take points. We feel safe where we are and our defense and goalkeeper play have improved, says Bernhardt.
Modo also took the important win without two of the team's key players, as both defenseman Mattias Norlinder, who was selected for the national team earlier on Tuesday, and center Sam Vigneault, were absent due to stomach flu.
Broke the stomach flu
But Modo broke both the stomach flu (at least for the time being) and their opponents.
HV71 started the best, but Modo scored the leading goal after 15.18 of the first period through Lukas Jasek.
In the second period, Victor Berglund increased the lead to 2–0 on a long shot that HV goalkeeper Hugo Alnefelt easily let through, as he missed the puck with his glove.
Mikkel Aagaard was close to increasing the lead to 3–0, but his lob shot hit the crossbar.
On the other hand, HV71 also had two posts, Tanner Kero hitting both the crossbar and the post.
Decided in power play
In the beginning of the third period, Mattias Tedenby was sent off for 2+2 minutes for a high stick.
Then Modo decided the game.
Defenseman David Bernhardt scored 3–0 with his tenth goal of the season and Sampo Ranta made it 4–0 with his ninth.
In between, HV71 was awarded a penalty shot after team captain Olle Alsing was fouled in a breakaway, but goalkeeper Lassi Lehtinen saved.
HV71 reduced the lead through Kero, but Paul Ladue set the final score at 5–1 in an empty net.
HV coach Anton Blomqvist was disappointed.
You should never take anything away from the opponents when they win, but we played them right into their hands, he says to TV4 Play.
