Skellefteå AIK edge out play-off rivals Linköping

Skellefteå AIK couldn't win the game in regular time but finally took advantage of a Linköping penalty towards the end of extra time, when Jonathan Pudas scored. "It is great that we found a way to win," said the hero of the match.

"It was a very tense match," says captain and match-winner Jonathan Pudas.

"It was a very tense match," says captain and match-winner Jonathan Pudas.

Foto: Peter Holgersson

Ishockey2024-02-16 10:29

It took 44 minutes for the deadlock to be broken in Saab Arena on Thursday evening. Nine minutes later, four goals had been scored.

Skellefteå AIK took a double lead in the final period, but the home team, Linköping, forced overtime. That's when Jonathan Pudas stepped up and found a gap between Marcus Högberg and the goalie's right post.

– It was a relief we finally won the game. We'd had some chances before, and we were glad that "Maxan" (Max Lindholm) drew a penalty that gave us another chance, said the match-winner afterward.

FAKTA

Linköping HC – Skellefteå AIK 2–3 e.förl. (0–0, 0–0, 2–2, 0–1)

Goals: 0–1 (44.06) Petter Granberg (Pudas, Sikura), 1–1 (49.19) Oskar Fantenberg, spel fem mot tre, 1–2 (52.27) Dylan Sikura (J. Johnson), 2–2 (52.42) Markus Ljungh (Fantenberg, Hävelid), 2–3 (62.30) Jonathan Pudas (Lindberg, J. Johnson), spel fyra mot tre.

Shots: 32–36 (12–11, 8–7, 12–12, 0–6)

Penalty minutes: 31–39 (2–4, 25–4, 4–31, 2–0)

Attendance: 5,045 personer.

Referees: Mikael Nord, Christoffer Holm.