Top teams lose
02 Feb 2013 | Henrik Lundqvist
Both the league leader Skellefteå and second placed HV 71 lost today when Elitserien played a full round. The league now takes a break for national team games until February 11.
Timrå IK - Skellefteå AIK
3 - 2 (2-1, 1-1, 0-0)
Eleventh placed Timrå surprised the league leader Skellefteå and beat them 3-2. Timrå is still ten points from solid ground in the standings and Skellefteå keeps the league lead with a 7-point margin. The league's top scorer George Holloway opened the scoring for the guests but Andreas Molinder tied it and Max Friberg gave Timrå the lead before the end of period 1. John Klingberg tied it again at 23:36 but Mathew Robinson scored Timrå's game-winning goal at 36 minutes.
Linköpings HC - AIK
0 - 1 (0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1)
The game was scoreless after regulation and overtime. In the shootout both teams failed on the first two attempts but then Esa Pirnes scored for AIK and Eric Himelfarb for Linköping. Both teams failed again in round 4 and 5. In the sixth round Christian Sandberg scored for AIK and Eric Himelfarb failed to beat AIK's keeper Niklas Lundström who only played in the shoot-out. Daniel Larsson made 27 saves for AIK while Linköping's keeper Christian Engstrand made 29.
Färjestads BK - HV 71
2 - 1 (0-0, 2-1, 0-0)
Third placed Färjestad beat second placed HV 71 and there is now only one point between them in the standings. All three goals were scored in the middle period. First Jesper Fasth scored 1-0 for the visitors. Martin Røymark scored it shorthanded and Joakim Hillding used a power play to score the winner.
Frölunda HC - MODO Hockey
1 - 3 (1-1, 0-0, 0-2)
Two power play goals helped MODO to beat Frölunda. The home team had taken an early lead on a goal by Dick Axelsson. But in the middle of the first period Axelsson served time for a boarding and Richie Regehr tied it. MODO's second power play goal was scored by Mario Kempe early in period 3. With a minute to go Richie Regehr scored his second goal of the game; an empty-netter.
Luleå HF - Brynäs IF
5 - 1 (2-0, 2-0, 1-1)
the defensive problems continue for last year's champion Brynäs. Goalie Johan Holmqvist was replaced with Robin Rahm at 22:44. At that time Luleå had a 4-0 lead on goals by Niklas Fogström, Linus Klasen, Cam Abbott and Toni Koivisto. five minutes before the end Cam Abbott scored again. Brynäs finally got a goal at 56:25 when Sebastian Enterfeldt beat David Rautio.
Växjö Lakers HC - Rögle BK
3 - 2 (1-0, 0-1, 2-1)
If Rögle had beaten Växjö the bottom of the standings had been much more interesting during the final rounds. Now there are 9 rounds to play and Rögle has 14 points up to Växjö on the important tenth place. Rögle had the lead for six minutes during the last period after Juhamatti Aaltonen had been successful on a penalty shot, but Noah Welch tied it for Växjö at 54:08 and just 49 seconds before the end Erik Josefsson scored on the power play to give the home team the win. Dennis Rasmussen had scored 1-0 for Växjö in the first period and Mike Iggulden 1-1 in the second.