Sweden is abuzz on Saturday about a crazy Friday night hockey game between Frölunda HC and Skellefteå AIK. In a pivotal Game 4 of the Swedish Hockey League semifinals at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Skellefteå won 7-6 in overtime, giving the northern club a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The game had everything: 13 goals, overtime drama, a strange own-goal right off a faceoff, and a controversial crosscheck that had Frölunda coach Roger Rönnberg and the team’s fans steaming afterward.
Skellefteå led 4-3 after 40 minutes, but it was in the third period when the temperature really turned up. Five goals were scored and another – a potential 5-5 goal by Frölunda – was washed out due to a kicking motion by Henrik Tömmernes banked the puck off goaltender Gustaf Lindvall and in the net.
With Skellefteå still leading 5-4 with 11:37 to go, Nicklas Lasu won a key faceoff in his own zone to defenseman Folin, who promptly fired a perfect shot inside the near post that beat his own goaltender Lars Johansson over the shoulder.
