It was a similar story to last week's SHL league game in which Färjestad triumphed. AIK huffed and puffed but couldn't make the pressure tell often enough, while the Karlstad team took their chances with clinical efficiency.
Early on AIK benefited from double penalties but just couldn't finish. Then, predictably, Färjestad scored with almost their first chance.
Each period was similar - AIK pressed and prodded and then Färjestad picked them off. The shot total of 26-18 tells its usual sorry tale for AIK: with 10 minutes to go they were 4-1 down.
But say what you like about AIK's inability to turn dominance into goals, they never give up. With two late goals they dragged themselves back into the game and so nearly equalized through Andreas Johnson in the dying seconds.
Now AIK need to win in Karlstad next week to progress to the semi-finals - it's a daunting task, but not impossible if they start converting chances.
MATCH FACTS
Skellefteå AIK – Färjestad 3–4 (1–1, 0–2, 2–1)
Goals: 0–1 (06.27) Victor Edjsell, straff, 1–1 (11.24) Zeb Forsfjäll (Salomonsson, Stenman), 1–2 (34.18) Victor Ejdsell, 1–3 (38.20) Joel Kellman (Bergkvist, Nyman), 1–4 (50.13) Liam Öhgren (Kellman, Tomasek), 2–4 (51.44) Linus Lindström (M. Lindholm, Nilsson), five against four, 3–4 (54.00) Axel Sandin Pellikka (Hugg).
Shots: 26–18 (10–6, 6–8, 10–4).
Penalty minutes: 6–4 (2–4, 2–0, 2–0).
Referees: Tobias Björk, Mikael Holm.
