With a lovely setting and many of our boys returning home to the arena they spent much of their youth and junior hockey in, expectations were high before tonight’s return meeting with the runner-up in the series, Lindlöven. We start the match all right and take a bit of the initiative, but perhaps not quite in the way that neither the crowd nor any Forshaging hoped for. We create some hot situations in front of Kias in Lindlöven’s goal. After just over 14 minutes, our Linus Johnsson goes out for two minutes and we sort out that box play. We are strong there. With 10 seconds left in the period, Hannes Wernell in Lindlöven incurs a two-minute suspension for interference. nothing happens in it and not before the end of the period either. We get a goal ruled out for offside in the goal yard. Must be right. but 1-o had not been unfair.
In the second period, we lose the initiative a little and Lindlöven asks us serious questions. We have corrected that before, but already after barely three minutes in the second period, Lindlöven takes the lead through Gustav Karlsson, played by Linus Sjöqvist and Filip Forsmark, We solve another box play when Lukas Enqvist incurs a hooking expulsion. But we are really strong in box play. So it’s going well. Immediately after the power break, Lindlöven’s Isak Jonson goes out for hooking. But our power play is again slow, predictable and without attack. The result 0-1 faces the third period.
In the third period, we start strong and push Lindlöven down with a bit straighter play, better forecheck and a little longer attack. And after an expulsion already after 1.29 into the third period equalises Tom Fridén performed by Linus Johnsson and Martin Fridén when we win a battle in front of Kias in Lindlöven’s goal in the power play. And here it looks like we’re taking over the game. But after 3:20 into the third period, Lindlöven makes it 2-1 through Filip Forsmark. A little unexpected but just as well established. We press the right button, create some half positions, but we play a little too around, without attack and we don’t feel as obvious as usual. And most clearly in that is that when we have to push, we incur a expulsion for too many players on the court. The match runs away from us and in the end Lindlöven scores 3-1 in an empty cage. We win too few battles when it has to be decided simply.
The match could absolutely have ended with a win for us. Without, for that matter, taking Lindlöven’s performance and profit away from them. We simply need to be a little better prepared and come out in a different way on a night like this against such good opposition. We need to get better in the power play (half the season gone now). Maybe also a question for our coaches actually? We need to dare to vary more in both players and ideas when we do not reach the results we are looking for. But there is a new match on Sunday. Towards Vallentuna with descent at 17.30. It’s the best of all, that and many days to screw things up like communication, relationships, tactics and commitment! The only thing we won’t be is comfortable. Because it’s not a fun position to be in. Hope to see you then! And many thanks for the nice setting in Löfberg’s arena!
Mikael Wikstrand about the match:
“Disappointed with the first 40 minutes. I don’t really recognize us. What they are due to, I don’t really know. We give it an okay push in the last period. I tI think we won fairly last time. I think Lindlöven wins just as fairly tonight. We will be back next year with new energy. Thanks to the audience in place. Great to see you all and hope to see you on Sunday! “
The match in numbers
Result: 1-3 (0-0, 0-1, 1-2)
Shots: 28-30 (7-12, 10-10, 11-9)
Expulsion minutes: 6 min – 6 min
Saves: 90.00% – 96.44%
Public: 481
The goals
0-1 Gustav Karlsson (Linus Sjöqvist, Filip Forsmark)
1-1 (PP) Tom Fridén (Linus Johnsson, Martin Fridén)
1-2 Filip Forsmark (Gustav Karlsson, Wiggo Centerwad)
1-3 Joel Kirkki (Isak Jonsson)
