With a pair of wins and five of a possible six points this week, Brynäs is now within striking distance of a playoff spot.
Team of the Week
Coming into the week Brynäs had been struggling since Christmas. With a four game losing streak and their last win coming back on December 19th, they were hoping to turn things around and get their first victory of 2020.
Their first matchup of the week came at home against a Rögle team that had won four straight and were looking to make it five. The first two matchups between these teams had seen each team win one, with Brynäs claiming victory in their second matchup back on December 5th.
It didn't take long for Brynäs to jump out to the early lead as their Captain, Anton Rödin, rippled the mesh with a pair of goals in the first half of the frame to give Brynäs the two goal lead. However, Rögle answered back as Nils Höglander and Dominik Bokk, both fresh from the World Juniors tournament, combined for a tally and pulled Rögle back within one heading into the second frame.
The final two periods saw Rögle put 23 shots on net and Brynäs registered 21 as both goalies were busy in the final two frames. However, it was Brynäs who capitalized on their chances and scored three unanswered to give them a 5-1 lead, including a hat trick goal from Anton Rödin. Rögle had one final burst of life late in the the third and managed the final goal of the game. Unforunately for them it was too little too late and they fell 5-2 as Brynäs snapped their four game losing streak.
Their second game of the week came on Saturday afternoon in Linköping as they were hoping to not only win their second game in a row but also their second in a row against Linköping.
Neither team had much success finding the back of the net in the first two periods, as Brynäs was heavily outshot in the first and managed just seven shots on net in the second. But It was Linköping who would break the scoreless tie late in the second frame as Broc Little scored his team leading 12th of the season. Linköping followed that up about halfway through the third frame to take the 2-0 lead. However, Brynäs refused to give up and responded with their first tally of the game just a couple minutes later. With just over three minutes remaining in the final frame of regulation, Anton Rödin scored his fourth goal in two games to tie the contest and force the overtime frame.
Neither team managed to get much going in the extra frame and the game looked as if it would be heading to the shootout. Unfortunately for Linköping, the first and only shot of overtime, and with just 26 seconds remaining, found the back of the net and Brynäs completed the comeback.
Brynäs will look to continue their success this week with matchups against Färjestad and Skellefteå.
Game of the Week
Our game of the week this week came back on Sunday afternoon as the third contest between HV71 ans Skellefteå looked to break the season series tie of one win apiece. Coming in to the game, Skellefteå boasted a three game win streak and Gustaf Lindvall had won his previous four starts with an astounding stat line of just .75 GAA and a .973 SV% over that period. So HV71 had their work cut out for them.
Despite a number of good chances for both teams in the first, including a couple of great saves from Gustaf Lindvall, neither team was able to ripple the mesh in the opening frame. HV71 registered 11 shots on net and Skellefteå kept pace with 10 of their own, but both goalies stood tall between the pipes and forced the scoreless tie to continue in to the second frame.
The scoreless tie would not last long however, as a beautfiul feed from Johannes Kinnvall would give his Captain, Simon Önerud, an easy tap home just 15 seconds in to the second frame. A number of chances throughout the remainder of the second would be turned away by both goalies, however Skellefteå finally rippled the mesh late in the frame. A fast break the other way was finished off by Robin Alvarez after a nice feed from Andreas Wingerli allowed him to tuck home the tying goal. Skellefteå followed that up about a minute an a half later to take a 2-1 lead heading in to the final frame of regulation.
The third period started much like the second, with a quick tally from HV71. Eric Martinssons rocket of a one timer found its way past Lindvall to tie the game at two goals apiece. Oscar Möller then had a chance to win it with a breakaway late in the frame, but a solid save from Hugo Alnefelt denied him and forced the game into extra time.
Despite the teams combining for a toal of seven shots in the five minutes of 3 on 3, neither was able to ripple the mesh and a shootout would be needed.
Both teams managed to score once in their first three shooters, but then it turned in to a goaltender dual and both Lindvall and Alnefelt refused to give up another one. It was the 17th shooter, Oscar Möller, who finally broke the deadlock and gave his team the victory.
Check out full game highlights here:
Standings
Luleå and Färjestad continue to sit first and second as Örebro jumps into third and knocks Frölunda down into fourth. Skellefteås success this week moves them into the top six, jumping into fifth and knocking Rögle into sixth and HV71 down into seventh. Djurgården and Malmö continue to trade places in eigth and ninth and Växjö holds on to the tenth spot. Brynäs is nipping at their heels in eleventh and Linköping, Leksand and Oskarshamn continue to occupy the bottom three spots.
Check out this weeks top goals:
and saves