Friday’s lone SDHL playoff game was a wild one. The stakes were high: a Frölunda win would force a decisive Game 5, while a loss would send Brynäs to the Finals. Brynäs took an early 2-0 lead on goals from Celine Tedenby and Jenniina Nylund, but Frölunda immediately pushed back, and reduced the lead to one with a Michelle Karvinen snipe.
The second period was all FHC, as the team fought for its life and outshot BIF 15-5. Frölunda skated circles around a very timid-looking BIF, and was rewarded when star Elisa Holopainen tied the game at 2-2 in the 38th minute. BIF came out with renewed resolve in the final frame, but could not solve Frölunda’s Stephanie Neatby and the desperate defending of her teammates. With one minute remaining in the third period, and Brynäs pressuring for the game-winning goal, disaster: As Neatby smothered a loose puck, Brynäs defender Annie Silén drove the net (and perhaps slashed Neatby in the process). Silén was promptly knocked to the ice by a wall of FHC players. In the ensuing scrum, she delivered an ill-advised kick to the stick of Andrea Dalen. Kicking is verboten (as it should be) and Silén was assessed a five minute major plus a Game Misconduct.
The penalty gave Frölunda over four minutes of power play time to open the overtime period, and they made no mistake. Dalen scored and triggered a raucous celebration on the Frölunda bench. Neatby made 24 saves in the win while counterpart Ena Nystrøm stopped 40 in an ultimately losing effort.
Game 5 should be one for the ages. The puck drops at 12pm local time on Sunday in Göteborg.