Night Of Firsts In The SDHL

It was an afternoon of firsts in the SDHL, as HV71 won their first game of the season, MoDo lost its first, and Frölunda wins its first-ever against Luleå.

MoDo entered the game as one of only two unbeaten teams in the league. With MoDo goaltender Andrea Brändli sporting a sparkling .969 save percentage, and a talent-laden SDE averaging an anemic 1.33 Goals Scored Per Game this season, SDE had an uphill battle ahead of them. MoDo opened the scoring on an Adela Sapovalivova marker, near the halfway point of the first period. SDE’s Malia Schneider, who scored a beauty in a losing effort against Brynäs on Friday, tied the game minutes later on a pass from defender Emma Bergesen.

SDE, a virtual United Nations of hockey teams, would take the lead in the second, on a power play marker from German national team forward Emily Nix, assisted by Dutchman Julia Zwarthoed and Hungarian Lotti Odnoga. MoDo would equalize in the third when Sapovalivova notched her second of the game. The ice had barely dried when SDE’s Michelle Löwenhielm sealed it in overtime, driving low from the right corner, powering the puck past Brändli, and handing MoDo their first loss of this young season.

A match between two championship contenders always promises to be a good one, and this game lived up to the hype. The first period was a high speed, back and forth affair, where Frölunda made clear that they are unintimidated by a stacked Luleå squad. An uncharacteristic misstep by Luleå’s star goalie Sara Grahn would lead to the game’s first goal, when she mishandled an unthreatening Hanna Olsson shot with her glove. Speedy Elisa Holopainen, ever the opportunist, picked up the loose puck and scored, 1-0 Frölunda.

Fans were treated to another fast and entertaining period in the second, with multiple quality scoring chances, blocked shots, big saves, and tough physical play. Luleå began the frame on the power play, and had a number of threatening sequences, but Frölunda’s Stephanie Neatby was up to the task and stopped everything to keep her team ahead.

Any team is unlikely to beat Luleå 1-0 in their home rink; Frölunda would need more offense to seal their first-ever victory against LHF. Holopainen again answered the call, dancing through three Luleå defenders before dangling Grahn and depositing the puck with a nifty backhand, making the score 2-0 for the visitors. As the period wore on, Luleå became increasingly desperate, but was thwarted by Neatby and the stellar defensive play of her teammates. Frölunda blocked shots, cleared cross crease passes, and generally made life difficult for last season’s champions. The home team’s Petra Nieminen would finally score off a slick Viivi Vainikka pass with three minutes remaining, but Frölunda’s Hanna Olsson put the game away with an empty net goal in the final minute. Frölunda goes home with their first ever win against Luleå, and fans can look forward to three more fiery meetings between the teams this regular season.

This was a meeting of two hungry teams, each needing every point in the standings in their quest to avoid the Relegation Round this year. HV71, looking to regroup after taking a 13-1 beating against reigning champions Luleå on Friday, found themselves on the power play early, but could not convert. Lack of production on the advantage has been somewhat of a theme for HV in the early weeks of this season, as the team has yet to register a power play goal.

Three minutes into the second period, HV’s Evelina Arvidsson turned her team’s luck around as she notched her first of the campaign to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. What followed was a parade to the penalty box, with each team taking a pair of minors before the period was out. Skellefteå, desperate to score in the third, finally tied it up on American Mikayla Lantto’s first of the season.

The game would be decided in overtime. As HV moved the puck up the boards in the offensive zone, Teagan Inglis would draw the attention of two Skellefteå defenders before passing to a wide open Kajsa Armborg in the slot. Armborg would make no mistake, sniping the puck top shelf to give HV71 their first win of the season.

Skellefteå, still finding its wings after promotion, has looked promising despite their 1-2 record. If they can find a way to score more goals, they have a shot to remain ahead of both HV and Djurgården in the standings.

Brynäs entered the game still without one of their most potent offensive threats - Hanna Thuvik, who was serving the second game of her suspension for boarding. Leksand, meanwhile, seemed primed for a breakout game, owning the league’s second most potent power play and one of the top goalies of this young season in 25-year-old Emma Polusny.

Making her first SDHL start, Brynäs’ goalie Emmy Nordström-Åmark would see the brunt of the workload in the first period, facing 10 shots and eventually allowing a goal to Leksand’s Hilde Ljungberg.

Brynäs’ Kaitlyn O’Donohoe responded in the second frame, when her shot from the right circle beat Polusny through traffic. Brynäs appeared to have taken the lead minutes later when Oona Koukkula made a beautiful play from her off wing to a driving Anna Brenkle, but the goal was disallowed after video review. Nordström-Åmark was tested often and stood tall, particularly during a flurry of Leksand chances as time wound down.

Leksand would continue to press in the third, and was finally rewarded when Shay Maloney found a pocket in the right circle, received a pass out of the corner from Ida Press, and beat a screened Nordström-Åmark with a shot low five hole. Brynäs pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but it was all for naught, as Polusny shut the door and Leksand won 2-1.