After their opening 4-3 CHL victory against Salzburg on Friday, a depleted AIK faced the Straubing Tigers on Sunday. Jonathan Johnson, injured in the previous game, and Axel Sandin Pellikka, aggravated an old injury, were both sidelined. This, combined with Oscar Möller's ongoing illness, meant AIK played without eight regular players.
The home crowd created an electric atmosphere at Eisstadion am Pulverturm. Straubing started strong, but Alexander Hellnemo made some crucial saves. AIK, playing with intensity, kept the home team scoreless in the first period.
Zeb Forsfjäll, who had also scored on Friday, opened the scoring for AIK, deflecting a Rasmus Bergqvist shot. As the period progressed, AIK gained momentum and had several power-play opportunities.
Andreas Johnson doubled AIK's lead in the second period, but penalties continued to disrupt the game. Straubing pulled one back through Adrian Klein, and Lukas Vesterlund's ejection gave the home team a five-minute power play. Despite their efforts, AIK couldn't hold on, and Cole Fonstad tied the game late in the third period.
Overtime didn't produce a winner, and the game was ultimately decided in a shootout, with Straubing emerging victorious.
MATCH FACTS
Straubing Tigers–Skellefteå AIK 3–2 after penalties (0–1, 1–1, 1–0, 0–0, 1–0)
Goals: 0–1 (07.30) Zeb Forsfjäll (Bergqvist), 0–2 (29.18) Andreas Johnson (Nilsson), 1–2 (32.33) Adrian Klein (Brandt, Leonhardt) five plays four, 2–2 (52.58) Cole Fonstad (Scott, Samuelsson), 3–2 (65.00) JC Lipon, winning penalty.
Shots on goal: 32–20 (9–7, 8–13, 11–0, 4–0).
Penalty minutes: 10–43 (4–6, 4–6, 2–29, 0–2).
Referees: André Schrader, Seedo Jannsen.
Red Bull Salzburg–Skellefteå AIK 3–4 (0–1, 2–2, 1–1)
Goals: 0–1 (07.30) Z. Forsfjäll (Nilsson, Sundqvist), 1–1 (24.49) Peter Schneider (Murphy), 1–2 (26.11) Oskar Nilsson (Eriksson, M. Lindholm) five plays four, 1–3 (27.27) Andreas Johnson (Vuollet, Pudas), 2–3 (31.34) Thomas Raffl (Nissner, Murphy) five plays four, 3–3 (43.24) Lucas Thaler (Bourke), 3–4 (57.37) Andreas Johnson (Brandsegg-Nygård, V. Lindberg).
Shots on goal: 21–31 (3–11, 7–14, 11–6).
Penalty minutes: 12–12 (6–2, 6–6, 0–4).
Referees: Andreas Huber, Manuel Nikolic.