DIF - Västra Frölunda HC 2-4 (0-1, 2-1, 0-2)
1st: 0-1, Per-Johan Axelsson, 6.51
2nd: 1-1, Patrik Kjellberg (Patrik Erickson), 1.08
2-1, Thomas Johansson (Espen Knutsen), 5.11
2-2, Axelsson (Peter Ström), 8.32
3rd: 2-3, Peter Berndtsson (Marko Jantunen), 5.21
2-4, Axelsson (Jonas Andersson-Junkka, Henrik Nilsson), 19.52
Shots on goal:
1st: 7- 9
2nd: 10- 8
3rd: 7- 4
total: 24-21
Penalties: 5x2 - 6x2
Referee: Börje Johansson
Attendance: 5428
As always when these teams play, the pre-match talk in the press had been about the 1-3-1 tactics. Usually, however, you don't see a big difference compared with other matches. This time, though, the defensive thinking was obvious, especially from Frölunda.
As a result of this, the first period only offered two chances. On the first, Per-Johan Axelsson scored 0-1 completely alone with Thomas Östlund after a horrible mistake from the DIF defence. The second was given in a similar way to Djurgården's Fredrik Lindqvist, but Sandberg cut off the angle.
In the second period, DIF came back and equalized with one player less, before the best defender on the ice, Thomas Johansson, scored 2-1 on a slapshot in power play. Now Djurgården had the match in their hands, but with a lot of luck Per-Johan Axelsson put the 2-2 puck in the net with his back facing the goal.
The last 20 minutes were conquered by Frölunda's 1-3-1 system, which DIF, although fighting hard, never managed to crack. Instead Frölunda scored two more goals, the last in power play with only eight seconds left.
Game rating (1-5): 2
Best goalie: (What's his first name) Sandberg, Frölunda
Lasse Falk might enjoy 1-3-1, but I certainly don't...
Best defender: Thomas Johansson, DIF
Best forward: Per-Johan Axelsson, Frölunda