The season started shaky.
Then, gold coach Robert Ohlsson made a notable interview and had to leave his post.
Then it got even worse – but possibly it has turned halfway through the SHL ice hockey season for Skellefteå.
The reigning champion team followed up the win against bottom team Modo with an impressive effective offense away against table two Färjestad, 6–3 (3–1, 0–1, 3–1).
"Gives self-confidence"
Important to go into the break with a six-point week, says two-goal shooter Max Lindholm.
The 27-year-old forward doesn't get a break. He debuts in Tre Kronor in Swiss Hockey Games.
The two goals that closed the match against Färjestad – 5–3 in a game shift and 6–3 in an empty net – came conveniently for several reasons.
Nice. It has been tough lately, but this gives self-confidence. It becomes more fun and easier, he says.
Max Lindholm doesn't want to speculate about whether the current version of Skellefteå can climb up to last season's levels – but believes that the two straight wins can mean a lot.
We should avoid comparing with last season. We have a new group, a new team, and we're on a new journey. This gives us something to build on. It feels like we have something going on, he says.
Before Max Lindholm entered the action, two of his teammates had written themselves into the goal protocol for the first time this season. New acquisition Luke Witkowski showed that he can do more than just defend.
The 34-year-old American defender put the puck in the net and equalized to 1–1 less than a minute after Färjestad took the lead. Then, the goal drought had lasted for over two years.
For Zeb Forsfjäll, 19, it hadn't taken as long since last, but his 4–2 in the cross was likely just as long-awaited and important.
Changed goalie
For table two Färjestad, who came to the match with six straight wins, it wasn't as fun, even though Norwegian Stian Solberg, just like Witkowski, got to score his first SHL goal, 2–3.
The home team spent a lot of time in the attacking zone but couldn't utilize the power play.
The result after the first period (1–3) characterizes the match. You can't let in three goals on five shots. It's hard to win in SHL then, says coach Tomas Mitell, who let Max Lagacé replace Damian Clara between the posts for the second period.
