AIK were without Pär Lindholm, Anton Heikkinen and Axel Sandin Pellikka. French club Rouen came to Skellefteå Kraft Arena as probably the biggest underdogs of the season. They left Skellefteå Kraft Arena as one of the most surprising winners.
The French league is of generally mediocre quality. Rouen, the reigning French champion, would probably struggle to avoid relegation from the second tier of Swedish hockey, Allsvenskan.
But on any given night, anything can happen, and in the first two periods, the French side gave Skellefteå AIK a run for their money. The visitors, with former Björkvöven (the Umeå team from Allsvenskan) player Francis Perron in the first line, got off to a good start.
Oscar Lindberg created AIK's only chance of note - and Lindberg's shot came with less than five minutes remaining in the first period. By then, the visitors had taken the lead. Francis Perron made it 1-0 after a spin-o-rama move by Jonathan Johnson in his own zone.
The Frenchmen also hit the crossbar with a shot and had a breakaway where Quentin Tomasino failed to beat AIK 'keeper David Rautio.
The French lead was no fluke. AIK upped the tempo in the second period, but the visitors not only held their own but nearly made it 2-0.
AIK tried to push forward in the third period, but Rouen defended well. AIK just couldn't breach the French defense.
3260 fans witnessed this historic failure as Rouen humbled AIK just one week before the SHL starts.
On Saturday, the reigning CHL champions Tappara await in Finland. Life is not getting any easier.
– I think everyone will sleep a bit poorly and tomorrow be ready for what's to come, said team captain, Jonathan Pudas, after the game.
– We know this wasn't good enough. It is important to learn from this and look forward.
FAKTA
CHL
Skellefteå AIK–Rouen 0–1 (0–1, 0–0, 0–0)
Goal: 0–1 (09.53) Francis Perron.
Shots: 33–26 (9–11, 11–13, 13–2)
Umpires: Marcus Linde, Mikael Holm.
Attendance: 3260