Now Luleå is waiting in the quarterfinals for Växjö. The score is 2–2 in head-to-head meetings during the season.
It's the third year in a row, so it's going to be fun, says Larmi, who saved all 17 Örebro shots.
It doesn't matter what the result is, says the Finnish goalkeeper to TV4 Play.
For Örebro, the season is over and for the second year in a row, it ended in the eighth finals.
I think we have enough good chances. We can't let in such a cheap goal as we do right after the face-off. It becomes match-deciding, says Örebro coach Niklas Eriksson to TV4 Play.
"Fan on time"
But family is worst.
Emil Larsson left Örebro for Växjö at the beginning of January after 4.5 seasons. This after a tough autumn with four goals and six points in 29 matches.
In Växjö, he scored two goals and seven points in 22 matches in the regular season.
After a face-off with two minutes left of the first period, Larsson threw himself forward and scored 1–0.
Really nice. I've been getting closer for every match, it was about time it went in, says Larsson to TV4 Play.
But it's not for nothing that these two teams had drawn five out of six meetings this season after regular time.
Sweaty saves
It was cautious and focused on defense, even though Växjö goalkeeper Emil Larmi had to make a couple of sweaty saves in the second period.
Emil Larsson could have become a two-goal scorer, but hit the post in numerical superiority.
In the third period, the home team had two more numerical superiorities, but couldn't get away.
Örebro was only a rib shot away from equalizing through Melvin Fernström.
When Örebro pulled out the goalkeeper, Växjö could decide and Hugo Gustafsson scored two goals in an empty net.
Malmö secured advancement on Saturday and after Växjö's victory, the SM quarterfinals will be as follows:
Thursday:
Brynäs (1 in the regular season)–Malmö (10).
Luleå–Växjö (8).
Other match days: 22, 24, 26, possibly 28, 30/3 and 1/4.
Friday:
Frölunda (3)–Timrå (6).
Färjestad (4)–Skellefteå (5).
Other match days: 23, 25, 27, possibly 29, 31/3, 2/4.
The match series are played in best of seven matches. The highest-placed team starts with two home matches, then two away matches, and then alternating home and away.
