The SHL premiere in Gothenburg was a replay of the spring's quarterfinal meetings between Frölunda and Leksand. And just like then, it was Frölunda who drew the longest straw.
In an intense first period, the home team took the lead – and it was only the beginning for Frölunda, who then never let up on the gas pedal.
Moreover, new players like Arttu Routsalainen and Dominik Egli got into the goal protocol directly.
We have had the ability earlier to take away their (new acquisitions') identity when they enter our game. It's something we have wanted to get better at. So I think it's extremely important that they get some success in the beginning, says head coach Rönnberg.
Rönnberg leaves
Much of the pre-talk surrounding Frölunda has inevitably been about Roger Rönnberg. Rönnberg – who last winter became the first head coach to reach 400 wins in SHL – is entering his twelfth and final season in Frölunda.
It has been clear since earlier that the 53-year-old will coach the Swiss top club Fribourg-Gottéron after the season.
Before a massive crowd pressure in Scandinavium, Frölunda's Filip Cederqvist was close to getting a match penalty for a head tackle already after just over two minutes. With the help of video review, it was instead a two-minute penalty.
A couple of minutes later, new acquisition Arttu Routsalainen – who was brought in from Lugano – gave the home team the lead in power play.
"We are sloppy"
Leksand's coach Charles "Challe" Berglund was not satisfied with his team's play in the first period.
We are sloppy. It's not at all the Leksand we want to see, said Berglund to TV4 Play during the period break.
But instead of a turnaround, the second period became a nightmare for Leksand.
First, Max Friberg scored 2–0 for Frölunda. Lucas Elvenes did reduce the score when he snatched the puck and precisely shot in Leksand's first goal of the season. The joy was, however, short-lived since Dominik Egli extended Frölunda's lead less than a minute later.
Carl Klingberg even managed to score another goal before Henrik Tömmernes made it 5–1 in the third period, which also became the final result.
