Before the home game against Timrå, Skellefteå AIK coach Robert Ohlsson stressed the importance of starting the game better than in the first two matches against Modo and Färjestad. Indeed, it was an intense and proactive home side that took to the ice on Thursday night.
Despite AIK's spirited start, it was Timrå who took the lead at 10:29 of the first period when Magnus Pääjärvi was set up beautifully by Simon Forsmark and calmly found a gap between the legs of Linus Söderström in the AIK goal.
The home team continued to push offensively, but to no avail. The closest they came was Rickard Hugg, who was set up in the slot by linemate Jonathan Johnson, but his shot went straight into the stomach of Timrå goalkeeper Tim Juel.
Just 22 seconds into the second period, AIK got a power play opportunity after AIK's best player of the first period, Pär Lindholm, took a penalty. However, the excellent opportunity to tie the game disappeared almost immediately when Filip Sandberg received a game misconduct penalty for a head check. The situation was reviewed on video and the on-ice decision stood.
However, the equalizer finally came when Axel Sandin Pellikka beat Juel with a quick shot on a four-on-four rush. Oscar Lindberg was credited with the assist, making the returning star center AIK's all-time leading scorer in the SHL.
With the score tied at 1-1, AIK had to kill off a penalty for over three and a half minutes, but managed to protect their goal thanks to excellent goaltending and heroic defensive work.
In Sandberg's absence, forward Oskar Vuollet, who made a big splash in the CHL earlier in the season, got a chance to play on the top line with Pär Lindholm and Linus Lindström - it was the 17-year-old's SHL debut.
At 3:08 of the second period, AIK scored a second. Jonathan Johnson carried the puck on the power play and fed Linus Lindström, who blasted high into the net to give AIK a 2-1 lead.
Johnson, in the third period, then made it 3-1 from close range after being set up by Anton Heikkinen, who scored his first SHL point in an AIK jersey.
Before the end of the game, Oscar Lindberg also found the back of the net after a pass from linemate Max Lindholm.
4-1. The comeback was complete.
FAKTA
Skellefteå AIK–Timrå 4–1 (0–1, 2–0, 2–0)
Goals: 0–1 (10.29) Magnus Pääjärvi (Forsmark, Eronen), 1–1 (21.32) Axel Sandin Pellikka (Lindberg, M. Lindholm) four-on-four play, 2–1 (36.52) Linus Lindström (Johnson, Nilsson) five-on-four play, 3–1 (44.33) Jonathan Johnson (Heikkinen, Nilsson), 4–1 (52.20) Oscar Lindberg (M. Lindholm, Granberg).
Shots on goal: 31–29 (9–11, 11–14, 11–4)
Penalty minutes: 29–4 (0–2, 25–4, 2–0).
Attendance: 4,031.
Referees: Linus Öhlund, Johan Magnusson.
