Växjö strongest in rival game

-”Special teams has worked really well together. It's going to be an intensed game and both team will give their best. It's always tough battles between us, but it feels great and I'm looking forward to the game,” Växjös' head coach Sam Hallam said.

The game

It was a good opening by both teams where you could see that they wanted to establish ground. We got see a close period with not too many open opportunities, but a lot of physical play. Especially by the home team, who played a disciplined defensive game and turned the play quickly.

HV71 had a lot of difficulties in the defensive zone when Växjö increased their intensity, but they managed to create some scoring chances anyway. The teams had one powerplay each, but they didn't managed to put the puck in the net. One of the reasons why the first period ended scoreless, was that both goalies played a solid first act.

Växjö was the better team most of the second period and started to control the game. HV71 had at short moments some pressure and created a couple of chances, but it wasn't something notable. But there was something to talk about though in this act.

Right after Richard Gynge, with an amazing skilled performance scored 1-0 for the home team, HV71s' Mattias Tedenby got a five minute major penalty followed by a match penalty due to his checking to the head on Växjös' captain Liam Reddox.

This act by Tedenby gave Växjö just the energy that they needed. Alexander Johansson got a pass from Cory Murphy at the offensive blueline, passed three players and shot a backhand up the roof behind Ersberg. Joakim Hillding increased the home teams' when he on a rebound from Ersberg on Murphys' shot got the puck and placed it for 3-0. HV71 made a goalie change at the same time and Fredrik Pettersson-Wentzell replaced Erik Ersberg. Växjö continued to create scoring opportunities, but nothing more happened.

HV71 started the third period best and got some pressure on Växjö, but it was due to the home teams' decreased intensity. HV71 got a chance to reduce when Josh Hennessy got 2 + 10 minutes for checking to the head and misconduct. HV71 managed to score by Oscar Sundh in the following powerplay, but it was questionable.

The intensity in the game came back and so did Växjös' aggressive checking halfway through the third. But they didn't had Oscar Sundh. Once again he read the play and stole the puck in the slot in offensive zone and scored his second goal. We had a game.

The last five minutes was an equal story and the gameplay went North & South mostly, but HV71 had most of the puck-possession. There was a lot of physical play and both teams gave each other some by-blows. But it wasn't something that the referees did something about. Växjö held their lead and took their fifth straight win.

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