The Week Before Christmas

With most teams on a short holiday break there were just two games last week before the league took a break for the holiday season. Örebro hosted Luleå and Brynäs visited Frölunda.

Örebro came into the game on a four game win streak and were looking to enter the holiday break with a fifth win in a row. The first period yielded no scoring however the second and third would be different stories. Luleå opened the scoring in the first half of the second frame, however their lead would be short lived. Örebro was able to answer back with a quick pair of goals and carried the 2-1 lead into the third period. The third would result in the exact same score line as the second as Luleå would tie the game just ten seconds into the final frame. However, Örebro would answer back with a pair of their own and seal the 4-2 victory and claim their fifth straight win. With their hotstreak intact Örbero now sits fourth overall in the standings with 47 points in 28 games. Luleå now sits tenth overall, ten points back of Örebro and seven points outside the top six.

The second game of the evening also featured a team on a hot streak as Frölunda had won three of their last four and had won their previous two games against Brynäs this season. The game was evenly matched and both teams went tit for tat throughout regulation. Brynäs opened the scoring in the first, Frölunda would tie it in the second with Brynäs answering back and Frölunda would score one more in the third to force the overtime period. It was the young Finn, Jere Innala who play overtime hero as he rippled the mesh just over three and a half minutes into the extra frame. With the win Frölunda continues to sit in third place with 52 points and Brynäs continue to struggle as they sit just two points out of the bottom two.

Boxing Day Action

The 26th of December is always a one of the biggest hockey days of the season in the SHL and this year was no exception. All but two teams were in action yesterday and all but one arena was completely sold out for post Christmas action.

There were two shutouts yesterday as Linköping bounced back from two straight losses and came away with a 3-0 road win over rivals HV71. The heavyweight matchup between Skellefteå and Växjö also resulted in a 3-0 final score in favour Skellefteå who leap frogged past Växjö for first place in the standings.

Oskarshamn came away with a big 6-2 win over Brynäs, Frölunda and Färjestad both won their games 3-2 against Rögle and Malmö respectively and Timrå came away with the narrow 2-1 victory of Leksand.

All in all their were 38,935 spectators in attendance across the six games played on Boxing Day.

Off Ice News

Howden

Along with a hotsreak intact, Örebro also recruited a Canadian forward last week as Quinton Howden has been given a tryout contract with the club while they play in the Spengler Cup in Davos. Howden, 30, had a brief appearence in the league in 2020 playing 11 games with Malmö. He started this season with Jukurit in Liiga and last season played in Germany with Kölner Haie.

– It feels great that we can bring Quinton to the Spengler Cup. We get a really good team player who always puts the team first. Enroth and Quinton have known each other since their time in Dinamo Minsk and we have received good words of wisdom from him. Now Quinton is training with the team on Christmas Day and it will be fun to see him during our matches in Davos, says general manager Stefan Bengtzén.

Howden's resume also includes four seasons in the NHL totaling 97 games and four season in the KHL. It's still unclear whether he will be joining the team for league play once the tournament has concluded.

Blomqvist

Jacob Blomqvist made a lateral move this week moving from Timrå to Brynäs. He returns to familiar ground as he previously spent six season with the club from Gävle, including three seasons as their captain.

– He is a guy who makes others better, makes demands on those around him and who comes in with leadership and drive. He always gives his all. Plus he has a good shot, is a good scorer and good at box play, says General Manager Johan Alcén.

Blomqvist also came up through the Brynäs junior organization and was born just outside of Gävle, so he is returning to his hometown team.

Nygren

Blomqvist is not the only player making a homecoming this week as Magnus Nygren returns to his junior and hometown team of Färjestad. The previous Färjestad Captain and Karlstad native has spent the past the past six season playing with Davos in Switzerland.

– I am grateful to Rickard (Wallin, sports director) and the rest of the gang who showed a real interest in me and, as I said, the interest is mutual. I feel that I have much more to give, and I also want to stand on that square again, says Nygren

Nygren previously spent four seasons with Färjestad before moving to Switzerland.