Goaltending duels and a breakout night for Akane Shiga to power the reigning champions Luleå highlighted another busy day of SDHL action.

It was a busy night of SDHL action with goaltenders shining across the league, and Luleå, led by former PWHL Ottawa forward Akane Shiga, put on a show of force.

Here's a look at today's SDHL action.

Brynäs 2 - SDE 1

In a thrilling goaltending duel, Brynäs’ Ena Nystrøm proved the victor, backstopping her team to a tight victory over Kassidy Sauvé’s SDE.

Brynäs bounced back after a lacklustre defensive showing against Frölunda in Week 1. Their much-improved defensive play plugged up the slot, blocking shots and denying passing lanes. When SDE did threaten, it was often due to Brynäs turnovers. Veteran Lisa Johansson, making her debut for SDE, had multiple prime scoring chances throughout the contest, but was repeatedly foiled by Nystrøm.

Jenniina Nylund opened the scoring for Brynäs when she was sprung on the breakaway by star defender Maja Nylén Persson. Nylund deftly tucked the puck five-hole on Sauvé, who registered a shutout in her first SDHL start last week. Brynäs would make it 2-0 early in the third period, when a couple of fortuitous bounces led to Celine Tedenby’s first goal of the season. SDE would make it interesting, pulling Sauvé for an extra attacker on the power play. Playing 6-on-4, Malia Schneider received the puck near the goal line, spun and fired over Nystrøm to make the game 2-1 with less than three minutes remaining. That was as close as SDE would get. Both teams will be back in action on Sunday.

MoDo 5 - Leksand 1

MoDo peppered Leksand’s goal in the second period, firing 18 shots on keeper Ellen Jonsson, managing three goals. Lauren Bellefontaine scored the period’s first goal with her team shorthanded, fewer than 30 seconds after teammate Mira Hallin was sent off for hooking. Darcie Lappan would score before Bellefontaine added her second of the period to make the game 4-1 MoDo.

Lovisa Engström potted her second of the season, making the game 5-1 for the home squad just minutes into the third period. Leksand, would get its chances with two third period power plays but could not convert, as MoDo’s goalkeeper Andrea Brändli stood tall, stopping everything that came her way.

Luleå 13 - HV71 1

In what can only be described as a first-class drubbing, Luleå scored six goals in both the first and third periods, eventually winning 13-1 against an overpowered HV71.

Akane Shiga opened the scoring for Luleå, and HV responded with a goal of their own by Hilda Svensson four minutes later. Unfazed, Luleå quickly regained the lead on Reece Hunt’s third of the season. HV had a chance to tie the game again when promising youngster Svensson was awarded a penalty shot, but her effort was turned away by goalkeeper Frida Axell. Four Luleå goals followed in quick succession before the period was out.

PWHL veteran Shiga would finish the game with five points on a goal and four assists, while Hunt and Viivi Vainikka each recorded hat tricks.

Both teams are set to play more competitive matches on Sunday, when Luleå will face fellow gold medal threat Frölunda, and HV71 will face SDHL newcomer Skellefteå.

Skellefteå 0 - Frölunda 4

Frölunda’s 17-year-old goalie, Maja Helge, earned her first shutout of the season in her first start, stopping all of the 29 shots she faced. Elisa Holopainen opened the scoring for the visitors only two minutes into the game, padding her early season point streak with another goal (and later an assist) to give her six points in three games. Frölunda would bear down in the second frame, scoring three goals in fewer than five minutes to set Skellefteå on their heels. Felizia Wikner-Zienkiewicz, Sofie Lundin and Nathalie Lidman’s shots each found the back of the net. The home team’s Miranda Dahlgren did an admirable job between the pipes, turning away many high quality Frölunda chances, but it was all for naught; her team could not put anything past Helge, and Frölunda took the victory.