Visiting Rögle have one of the strongest forward lines in the SHL. Offensively, the team has shown a lot of quality despite a long injury list.
However, the visitors have less to be proud of defensively. In contrast, AIK has a strong defense and an underpowered forward line.
Last night, however, AIK were excellent at both ends, despite an heroic performance by Rögle goalie, Petr Kvaca, who saved an astonishing 42 shots.
Axel Sandin Pellikka gave AIK a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. It was his ninth goal of the season and he's now only two away from the junior record for goals scored by a defender.
Rögle equalised against the run of play, but Andreas Johnson, with his debut goal for AIK; gave AIK the lead again just a minute later.
AIK took control of the game in the second period, with Rögle goalkeeper Petr Kvaca keeping the visitors in the game. The home team piled on the pressure, taking a total of 20 shots on goal. However, they couldn't find a way past Kvaca, so Rögle was still in the game going into the third period.
But AIK kept hammering away and Linus Lindström finally beat Kvaca, only for Rodrigo Abols to make it 3-2 with only Rögles's second shot on target. Then Arvid Lundberg sealed AIK's victory with a 4-2 empty net goal, his second of the season.
AIK had finally wrapped it up.
MATCH FACTS
SHL
Skellefteå AIK–Rögle 4–2
Goals: 1–0 (3.07) Axel Sandin Pellikka (Filip Sandberg, Rickard Hugg), 1–1 (9.24) Felix Nilsson (Brandon Davidson), 2–1 (10.25) Andreas Johnson (Dylan Sikura), 3–1 (55.54) Linus Lindström (Max Lindholm), 3–2 (59.01) Rodrigo Abols (Adam Tambellini, Anton Bengtsson), 4–2 (59.34) Arvid Lundberg (Linus Söderström).
Shots: 46–15 (10–9, 20–4, 16–2).
Penalties: S: 3x2 R: 4x2.
Referees: Andreas Harnebring, Daniel Eriksson.
Attendance: 4,011.