SDE completed a dramatic comeback to topple and eliminate MoDo, while Leksand opened their qualification series with a win over Färjestad. Here's a look at the action in Sweden.

SDHL Playoffs

SDE 4 - MoDo 1 (SDE wins series 3-2)

After dropping the first two games of their quarterfinal matchup against MoDo, SDE knuckled down and climbed all the way back to win the series 3-2 on Wednesday evening.  The SDHL’s sixth-ranked team never played like the underdogs, instead ruthlessly hounding MoDo all evening.  MoDo’s skill players rarely had the time and space they needed to make plays, and their frustration became palpable as the game progressed.  Young Mira Hallin generated some offense, but was turned aside by SDE goalkeeper Kassidy Sauvé, who played like a woman on a mission.  Sauvé stopped 41 of 42 shots she faced in Game 5, the only game in this series where SDE was outshot.  SDE’s veterans came to play in this do or die game, and showed no mercy or respect for the team that finished third overall in the regular season.  Captain Mathea Fischer opened the scoring as she charged in from the flank on the power play to pounce on a rebound and put her team up 1-0. Early in the third period, a desperate MoDo finally got their tying goal when Emma Seitz potted her second of the postseason to make it 1-1.  MoDo pressed and pressed for the lead, but could not beat Sauvé or the goal posts.  With fewer than four minutes remaining, SDE got another power play opportunity and made no mistake.  Defender Lotti Odnoga danced laterally with the puck, faced the goal as if to shoot, and slid a perfect pass to Gabby Jones, playing the bumper position in the slot.  Jones’ deft redirection beat Andrea Brändli five hole, and the SDE bench went wild.  The team added two empty net goals to coldly dispatch MoDo, and will face Luleå in the SDHL semifinals.  Jones had two goals, Mathea Fischer had two points, and Lotti Odnoga assisted on the game winner but has not officially been credited. 

SDHL Qualification Round

Färjestad 0 - Leksand 1 OT (Leksand leads Best of 3 series 1-0)

Both teams got out to a rather shaky start to the series, as nerves appeared to have everyone gripping their sticks a little bit too hard.  Passes were missed, near-certain scoring chances squandered, and both teams struggled to settle in before 1600 fans in Karlstad.  Färjestad, winners of their last 32 straight games, seemed unaccustomed to being pressured. Leksand, losers of 18 straight SDHL games to close out the season, seemed unaccustomed to possessing the puck.  Each team’s goalie played well, especially Leksand’s Emma Polusny, who recorded a 28 save shutout and kept her team alive despite a series of defensive gaffes by her teammates.  This was not a pretty game or a particularly well-played one by either team, but it did, of course, produce a victor: five minutes into overtime, Leksand’s Tereza Radova gained possession deep in Färjestad’s zone and carried up the right half boards before powering laterally across the blue line and releasing a hard wrister through traffic. Her shot, Leksand’s twenty-fifth of the game, beat goaltender Amanda Rampado cleanly to give LIF the win.  The team’s celebration spoke volumes: fans saw relief rather than joy.  Leksand needs one more win to maintain their spot in the top league next year.  Färjestad’s season, now 32-1, will, perhaps unjustly, be considered a failure if they do not win promotion.  The stakes are high.  Game 2 is set for Saturday.