Team of the Week

Örebro was back on the ice after being in COVID protocols for most of the month. Their last game came back on January 8th and they were looking to turn things around. Before their delay, they had lost four stright games and were looking for their first victory of the new year.

Thursday

Their first win of the new year was not going to come easy as they came up against a Rögle team that were sitting third overall in the standings.

The first two periods saw Örebro heavily outshoot Rögle as they put 17 shots on target in the first and held Rögle to 9 of their own. The second period saw them put 9 shots on target and they held Rögle to just 5. Despite outshooting their opponents 26-14 in the first forty minutes, Örebro managed just a single goal which came late in the first frame. Rögle would also capitalize on one of their chances late in the second period to tie the game and send it to the third period at a 1-1 tie.

The disparity on the shot clock continued in the third period as Örebro eclipsed their first period total and put 19 shots on target in the final frame of regulation. Unlike the first two frames, however, Rögle could not weather the storm as Örebro scored twice in just 44 seconds in the early stages of the period. They would put the nail in the coffin later in the period with a third and final goal in the frame, securing the 4-1 victory and snapping their four game losing streak.

Check out full game highlights here

Saturday

Örebro were back on the ice on Saturday evening as they welcomed Djurgården to Behrn arena. Djurgården were also debuting Joakim Fagervall as head coach, but unfortunately it would not be the start he was hoping for.

Just like their game against Rögle, Örebro heavily outshot their opponent in the first two periods of this game. Unlike their game against Rögle, however, they had no trouble scoring in the opening forty minutes. The first period saw Örebro open the scoring, but Djurgården would answer back. Unfortunately for Djurgården, the tie was short lived. Rodrigo Abols and Nick Ebert would score a pair of late goals in quick succession to end the first period. In fact Eberts goal came with just one second left on the clock as they carried the 3-1 lead into the second period.

The second period saw Örebro pick up right where they left off in the second as a goal with less than a minute elapsed in the period kept the momentum going. Miikka Salomäki and Christopher Mastomäki would each score a goal in the period as well and Örebro would carry the 6-1 lead into the final frame of regulation. Örebro also outshot Djurgården 17-6 in the second frame and a total of 28-13 over the first two periods.

The third period was a bit more tame as far a scoring and shots on target are concerned, however there was one more goal scored, and that came from Emil Larsson. Although the seventh and final goal was not necessary for Örebro, it was a big one for Larsson, who had not registered in a single point in his past twelve games.

Check out full game highlights here

Sunday

After having more than two weeks off, Örebro has games to make up and so that meant a second game in as many days. They were looking to make it a perfect week as they once again played host on Sunday evening, this time against Oskarshamn. Red hot Örebro was coming up against a luke warm Oskarshamn, that had lost three of their last four.

Unlike their previous two games in the week, this game was a bit more evenly matched on the shot clock. Unfortunately for Oskarshamn, that did not translate into offence for them. Jhonas Enroth would turn aside all 21 shots he faced in this one and would come away his league leading fifth shutout of the season.

Örebro's offense would also come through with a trio of goals, one in the first and two in the second, to secure their third victory in four days, claiming all nine points on the week. Those nine points lifted them from 11th to 7th in the standings as they now sit just three points back of Oskarshamn for sixth overall, with two games in hand.

Check out full game highlights here

Player News

Salak

The biggest news of the week came out of Stockholm as struggling Djurgården recruited a big piece between the pipes this week, bringing in Alexander Salak.

– We are super happy to have received this signature. Salak is a well-deserved goalkeeper who has held a high class for many years, and who has a past in both the SHL and KHL. Given the uncertainty that has existed since Niklas disappeared last autumn, it feels enormously safe with the three goalkeepers we now have, comments Djurgården's acting sports director KG Stoppel.

Salak has previous SHL experience, playing two seasons with Färjestad where he won the Swedish championship back in 2011. He also spent seven seasons in the KHL and played the last season and a half in the Czech league with HC Sparta Praha. The contract is valid until the end of this season, with an option for next season.

Dahlström

John Dahlström has been given a contract extension by Oskarshamn. The 25 year old has been with the club since 2017 and helped the team get promoted to the SHL for the 2019/20 season. Dahlström has 3 goals and 11 assists in 37 games played so far this season. The contract is valid through the 23/24 season.

Highlights

Check out this weeks top goals:

And saves: