AIK completes the surprise and eliminates Luleå
18 Mar 2012 | Fredrik Pålsson
Viktor Fasth had a shutout when AIK sent Luleå out of the playoffs. Skellefteå has 3-2 against MoDo.
Luleå - AIK 0-3 (Series: 1-4)AIK completed the surprise and for the second year in the row they sent the regular season winners out of the quarter finals. A big disappointment for Luleå who selected to play AIK in the quarter finals. Luleå's Niclas Wallin said "They do everthing better than we do. They win every duell".
Luleå who was so good in the regular season with a fantastic defense didn't stand a chance against a bigger and more powerful opponent when it was time for playoff hockey. AIK also has the best goalie of the league in Viktor Fasth who made 31 saves for the shutout today.
Oscar Ahlström opened the scoring in the second period and Patric Blomdahl made it 2-0 in the third with a power play shot high behind David Rautio in Luleå's net. Christian Sandberg made it 3-0 on the empty net.
Skellefteå - MoDo 2-1 (series: 3-2)
Things looked bad for Skellefteå when MoDo took the lead in the first period and held it 35 minutes. It was Niklas Sundström who scored the first goal on the power play.
The second period was scoreless but MoDo took more penalties than Skellefteå and had to work hard to defend themselves shorthanded. Skellefteå took over more and more of the game and Fredrik Granberg tied the game when he went forward from his defensive position.
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen had a shot in post just before Jimmie Ericsson scored the game winning goal with three minutes left to play, the goal scored during a delayed penalty call.