Three straight losses and plenty of injuries. That was the situation ahead of the rivalry match against Linköping in the fourth round of SHL.
And not even in the fourth round would the season's first point come. It was another loss for the Jönköping team, which remains last as the only team without a point.
The loss was signed by two Canadians as early as the first period. First, Remi Elie scored his first goal of the season, and just four minutes later, his compatriot Ty Rattie opened his goal account for the season.
"Pretty strange"
However, the visiting team's coach, Anton Blomqvist, did not think that HV71's deficit reflected the match picture.
It feels pretty strange, actually, to leave with 0-2 against us. I wouldn't have thought it was unfair if it was the other way around, he says to TV4 Play.
In the second period, Hugo Fransson reduced the score to 1-2, but no closer did HV71 get.
Linköping won the "E4 derby", and took their second win in three matches.
Tomasek still on fire
Meanwhile, a pure top match was played in Norrbotten, when Luleå hosted Färjestad.
There, it was much more goal-rich, and a certain David Tomasek continued his crazy season start on the right track. The Czech scored a goal and two assists when his Färjestad won 6-4.
Thus, the 28-year-old stands at six goals and four assists after four played matches.
With the win, Färjestad also climbs to the top of the table, with eleven points in four matches.
