IKO intends to complete the bang: "Has taken several matches in Ängelholm"

Series Oskarshamn took the road via the round of 16 final against Leksand to reach the Swedish Championship quarter-final. And on Sunday, Oskarshamn could have beaten series-winning Rögle through a win at home in the Be-Ge Hockey Center. But it was a 5-2 loss and on Tuesday a seventh and decisive match awaits in Ängelholm.

– For us, it is the same situation as in the last match. We have a chance to win and move on. That’s how we must see the situation, says IKO coach Martin Filander to HockeyNews.se.

When Småland’s Oskarshamn made it to the SHL, they did so through a 4-3 victory in matches against Timrå in the spring of 2019.

– I have actually never been to match seven myself, so it’s exciting. We have some who have been through it and have that experience. Those who participated and went up (to the SHL) won match seven. And we probably have some North Americans who have experienced it, says Filander.

But Oskarshamn has only during this season gained experience of winning or losing matches.

– This is the third time we are in such a decisive match. We had the last round of the series and we had the Leksand series and now we are here again. It’s just a matter of embracing the situation and driving, says Filander.

Do you have time to learn any of the pointed matches?

– In any case, the feeling that you know what reactions you may have as a group and what temperature we need to have in the room emotionally. Then we are all human so you need to be prepared as a leader to adapt on the go, I think.

Are you changing anything until tomorrow?

– It remains to be seen. I do not want to say much. We shall see.

Oskarshamn, just like Rögle, has injured players on the way to the seventh and decisive match.

– You have what you have when it is the playoffs. It is also part of the playoffs that you have to cope with the ones you have when you line up for the first time. That’s right. I have tried to focus on the ones we have available and make the best of it. Do not feel sorry for ourselves but more faith in those who are out there and give them the right conditions to deliver.

Oskarshamn has won two of three Swedish Championship quarter-finals away against Rögle. Can you do it again in match seven? Photo: Bildbyrån.

What speaks for Oskarshamn?

– We are somehow in an all-to-win situation. It’s cliché, but for us it really is. We were expected to come last or second last maybe in the series and we have made it to the playoffs and beaten a top-tipped team and sat in this series against the series winners and European champions.

Martin Filander reloads:

– I think we should somehow attack it in the best possible way and dare to play. We have played several matches in Ängelholm. We must not forget that. It is not that it is an impossible task or something that has not happened before. It is a hockey match and we will try to do personal best here.

Facts / The team’s previous meetings during the season

The Swedish Championship play-offs: IKO-RBK 2–5, RBK-IKO 1–4, IKO-RBK 1–0, RBK-IKO 4–1, IKO-RBK 2–3, RBK-IKO 1–2.

The basic series: IKO-RBK 3–5, RBK-IKO 3–1, RBK-IKO 5–4, IKO-RBK 1–2 (five).