There are some things that indicate that Frölunda’s swinging 5-4 victory in overtime against Djurgården was perhaps a turning point.
Just like snowdrops, snowdrops, crocuses, blue skies, sunshine and bird chirps are signs of our perhaps Frölunda’s 2-4 to 4-4 and finally 5-4 is a receipt that Roger Rönnberg’s team is back on track after a few weeks with weak results .
– I hope this is exactly what we need in the situation we have been in. Get something that creates faith over time. That we find peace, says Rönnberg to C More after the two points.
11 790 spectators in Scandinavium left the mostly boiling arena happy smile. A victory is a victory. Even though it was far inside.
Total dominance in the first period, but only a 1-0 lead.
Complete failure in the second period when missed free throws and swampy goal chances led to a 4-2 lead for qualifying Djurgården.
Then Rönnberg was not as amused and the audience actually booed for a few seconds after the final signal after two periods.
– I’m damn pissed that we put it this way, he told C More and refused to look back and analyze.
He probably said enough for his players to let go.
Reduction after twelve seconds in the third period by Max Friberg. A long-awaited goal for him.
Just like it was for Patrik Carlsson when he had to make it 1-0. Patrik Carlsson had not scored since December 9. 19 goalless matches and in between some pettings.
## That it was Elmer Söderblom who stepped forward and decided for Frölunda was not as surprising. It was his 21st SHL goal this season and his eighth match-winning win.
Should we guess that Frölunda has a lot of strengthening to take with her from this evening? I think so anyway.
RFrölunda takes home the match in extra time! pic.twitter.com/htIIOg0GqP
— C More Hockey (@cmorehockey) March 19, 2022
Djurgården, in turn, takes a nice point in the only match that remains before the qualifier against Timrå, which starts next Saturday.
And that’s about the home advantage.
With the points from Gothenburg, Djurgården has a two point lead over Timrå, which has two games left to pinch points. It is thus an advantage for Djurgården.
Stockholmers are certainly disappointed that it was only one point against Frölunda considering the two-goal lead before the last period and that they had the chance to play four against three for almost two minutes at the beginning of the overtime period.
But it is important that Sebastian Strandberg scored. His 1-1 draw against Frölunda was his first goal for Djurgården since September 23 and everyone is worried about injuries. Strandberg was the best animal farmer against Frölunda and also had an assist in the match. That he is starting to approach normal class is very good news before the qualifier against Timrå.
A more worrying thing for Djurgården is that the previously so reliable and almost spotless hill Marc-André Gragnani has for a long time made serious mistakes that led to setbacks. Gragnani did it again with a 4-3 lead and play in powerplay with less than seven minutes left of the third period. Carelessness on the offensive blue line led to Frölunda’s star defender Andreas Borgman being able to counter in 4-4.
Djurgården played without slightly injured Éric Gélinas and also without Linus Arnesson who are both expected back on Monday before the last match and qualifier.
## Coach Joakim Fagervall has shown that he does not hesitate to poke players who do not do what is expected and Gragnani is right now very close to that limit.
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