IN THE PICTURE: Jimmie Jansson Lorek got a memory for life when everything went right on the 500 evening. ARCHIVE PHOTO: RUNE ÅHLÉN
Hockey. Can. Be. Cool.
Actually.
Perhaps the world’s most starved fans – all categories – finally got a real full evening in every way when VIK won 3-0 at home against a somewhat strong top-6 Oskarshamn.
Jimmie Jansson was celebrated in a high-class way and the VIK heel was fantastic. Thanks for that! Everyone in VIK-land really needed that.
FIRST PERIOD
Nice first with tribute of 500 for Jansson, good atmosphere and game. Komarek almost magical with a full 8-0 in NP in just one period.
1-0 after strong preliminary work by Komarek but above all Jansson and almost open goal Loimaranta who scored his second in the last 17.
Fairly 2-0 after Sjödin was finally sharp again worked the puck loose and interesting Falk headed in Pennerborn’s smart cross.
IKO timeout after 9 minutes. The guests lifted a bit after that.
7-5 chances for VIK 5-on-5. Komarek was behind great chances Loimaranta and Lawner.
Unfortunately no Broeng but Hannes Wenell looked solid and good at skating. One is a goldmine for those who can dig a little.
And Lukas Johansson has been named on the shirt! Birgersson nice drop in the middle zone but Sjödin burned the free position. Fun first 20, it’s important to enjoy the moment.
THE SECOND PERIOD
A lot of IKO last 10 in the second, but VIK and Oschgan held off and 3-0 before the last. But a whole 10-4 chances IKO in 5-on-5. Loimaranta elegantly acquitted Lawner immediately.
Uneven Mylläri fixed PP.
After many heavy Jansson shots, the 500-piece finally sat in the net in PP. This after fine preparatory work by Rosdahl and above all Sjödin, who finally got the Örebro tempo out of his body tonight.
Mylläri dribbled and IKO put the free kick into the post. There were peppered chances and hard pressure against the VIK box and then someone like Lundgren is so important and strong.
VIK stepped up: brilliant Loimaranta speed and play to Jakobsson. Sjögren rode strongly to free mode. Strong stuff by Oschgan in net as IKO was good.
THE THIRD PERIOD
Rosdahl took another sending off in the attack zone which could have been costly, but tonight VIK for once had some fluidity in keeping tight.
And the frames helped the yellow and black, so also in this BP.
Loimaranta burned a nice 2-on-1 situation. Lukas Johansson was quite anonymous but found a pass for Rosdahl, who was however blown hard outside.
It was strong that VIK broke back game-wise in the third and won the chances in 5-on-5 with 8-6 in a very chance-rich and enjoyable ice hockey match. IKO offered except for the first 10.
Malte Sjögren broke and went to a clear position, but missed. Also boom when Birgersson neatly found Sjögren centrally.
In the end Jansson went out with VIK fought bravely and with luck and a lot of skill Oschgan kept a clean sheet.
SUMMARY
Hockey can actually be fun. This was the best and most entertaining match in a long time in the ABB Arena.
Jimmie Jansson and his family got a memory for life when everything was just right when #10 was celebrated for a full 500 games in Gulsvart.
The celebration ignited the audience and the entire team. And above all Jansson himself, who was behind the first goal with an incredible preparation that gave Loimaranta an open goal.
Many were good. Also IKO, who won the chances in a Wild West-like event with a whopping 21-19 (5-7, 10-4, 8-6). Very entertaining.
As long as Komarek is fresh and fired up in the games, the Austrian has few superiors and the first period was a pure pleasure to see #67 win and distribute pucks all over the ice. Lawner (5-2) and Loimaranta (6-2) also driving as usual.
Perhaps the most pleasing thing was that Svante Sjödin finally looked like Svante Sjödin again after getting Örebro out of the system. All 10-0 in NP for #46 and two assists (should have assists on 2-0 as well).
It makes a big difference when Sjödin is this good and in “normal” form. Also still liked Sebastian Falk, who is very efficient and smart on the ice, goalscorer and fine 6-0 in NP.
Falk still feels much better than the others in VIK’s wide chains, but only two games of course. Jakobsson also sharp in that chain with 7-0 NP. If these were allowed to continue together, it could probably be a good unit.
Rosdahl’s (4-2) unit decent where Guay (2-0) struggles and tries to distribute pucks. The loanee Lukas Johansson (2-0) isn’t Guay the fastest, but showed game sense when he thus served Rosdahl a great position, but a little too anonymous.
Birgersson (5-3) grew into the game and had one of his better games with several nice passes after feeling well roughed up in many games. Sjögren (5-2) and Pantzare (3-0) did good days’ work.
In the back position, Jansson was very tone-setting with 9-3 in NP and two class points. When it was the most windy in his own zone when IKO was good, Lundgren stepped forward like a rock with a full 8-1 in NP in perhaps his best match this season.
The last time Lundgren was here, Irstasonen switched up a lot after a while, hope this was a step towards someone similar. Wenell was thus unexpectedly stable and fast to come from Etan and play in his first HA match. Impressive and flawless debut.
Mylläri (4-3) can do better and can probably lift more. In goal, Oschgan took his first clean sheet at senior level and the Austrian clearly has a top level that allows him to win games against good HA teams.
The optimist who now looks at the table also sees that it is not actually light years up. And if VIK can continue like this and as away against MoDo there is a hope for a lift. Despite everything.
But we need to buy half of Lindlöven now. How will it be done?
PUCKLIGAN
5 Jimmie Jansson
4 Konstantin Republic
3 Svante Sjödin
2 Niclas Lundgren
1 Benedikt Oschgan
BUBBLER: Carl Jakobsson, Oscar Lawner, Veikko Loimaranta and Sebastian Falk.
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