Holopainen’s Four Points Lead Frölunda to Series Win Over Brynäs, Final Against Luleå Awaits

What a difference a few days can make.  Frölunda found themselves on the verge of elimination in this semifinal series on Wednesday, having dropped two of three games to Brynäs.  FHC had struggled with consistency in those losses, and could not afford to continue that trend.  They toughed out an overtime win on the road in Game 4 to tie the series and force Sunday’s decisive Game 5, where they delivered their most consistent effort of the playoffs to ultimately send Brynäs packing. 

Playing at Göteborg’s historic Scandinavium in front of nearly 2000 fans, Frölunda took control early in Game 5 and never looked back.  Only 90 seconds into the first period, Sofie Lundin sprung Sydney Brodt and Elisa Holopainen on a 2-on-1. Brodt deked hard to her backhand, drawing Brynäs goalkeeper Ena Nystrøm out to her right, before sliding a perfect pass to Holopainen who converted into a wide open net.  Holopainen and Brodt factored in to FHC’s second goal too, registering assists when Felizia Wikner-Zienkiewicz jumped on a good bounce to score from the doorstep and make it 2-0 FHC.  

Brynäs, for their part, looked impotent.  They struggled to break out, struggled with zone entries, and did not generate more than a pair of decent scoring chances in the first half of the game.  While BIF captain Julia Östlund scored at the end of the second frame to make it a 2-1 game, it never really felt as if Frölunda was in jeopardy.  Indeed, moments into the third period, Lundin deposited a well-placed Holopainen rebound into the back of the net to restore Frölunda’s lead to two. 

Brodt and Michelle Karvinen would each score one more for Frölunda and Celine Tedenby tallied late for Brynäs.   Frölunda earned their spot in the SDHL Finals with a consistent, relentless effort in Game 5.  They will need more of the same against reigning champions Luleå, who have waltzed through the playoffs so far, sweeping both their quarterfinal and semifinal series. 

Game 1 of the Finals is slated for Wednesday at 7pm in Luleå.