Frölunda won – Abbott damaged – Helsingborgs Dagblad

The chain with Max Gortz (two goals), Mathis Olimb (three assists) and Andrew Johnson (a goal) settled the game by fixing 3-0 to Frölunda before six minutes had been played by second period. Lulea found it difficult to keep up with when the inspired Frölunda trio drove around in the visitors’ defense zone.

Norske Center Mathis Olimb received special praise from Frölunda coach Roger Rönnberg.

– I think he leads the team. Not only in the game with the puck, he may do some points and so. I think that he is fighting like an animal, win face-offs and win rough, back checking and puts the job mostly all the time, says Rönnberg.

Luleå reduced by Peter Cehlarik and then Johan Harju, in game six-to-five with 1:48 left, but Frölunda won fairly.

The most controversial moment of the match came after 12:34 in the first period, when the score 1-0. Luleå Cam Abbott was on his way with the puck against Frölunda goal, surrounded by several opponents. The hill Erik Gustafsson received with a tackle who took offense. Abbott was thrown headlong into the ice and had to be helped off the ice.

Cam Abbott was unable to play more, and Gustafsson received a match penalty for the foul against the head.

– We expect five-match ban, at least says Luleå’s sporting director Lars “Osten” Bergström.

Cam Abbott did not want to talk to the media after the match, and Luleå’s management chose not to tell me closer to his injuries. The 31-year-old Canadian has had several serious concussions in the past, and was sidelined for two years from 2010 to 2012.

Frölunda coach Roger Rönnberg felt that Gustafsson could not have behaved differently.

– Abbott is very low down with his head. This rigging takes naughty, it’s clear it’s expulsion. But as the puck carrier, you must be ready to somebody to come, says Rönnberg, who do not believe Gustafsson gets turned off.

There is some heat between these two teams, after a series of tough encounters that many remember.

Luleå took their only national championship in 1996, in a thrilling final series against Frölunda.

Last Frölunda won a match series in the playoffs was in 2009 – against Luleå, who was trained by today’s Frölunda Coach Roger Rönnberg .

Luleå struck out Frölunda in the quarter-finals two years ago.

Lulea also won the year’s final of the Champions Hockey League against Frölunda.

But the audience in Gothenburg cautious. 7625 spectators at Thursday’s match is far below Frölunda’s home average of just over 9000 in SHL this season.