Frolunda and Linkoping square off in all-Swedish Quarter-Final
Two Swedish teams go head-to-head in the Quarter-Finals as Linkoping HC take on Frolunda Gothenburg. If past CHL accomplishments or the current standing of the teams in the SHL is any indication, Frolunda should be clear favourites. The side from Gothenburg have been to the CHL Final each of the past two years and are the reigning CHL and SHL champions. This season, they are first place in the SHL regular season. Linkoping, on the other hand, are in the CHL Quarter-Finals for the first time and mired in 8th place in the 14-team Swedish domestic circuit.
However, the statistics that the two teams have put up through eight CHL games so far this season are remarkably similar. Only one point separates them in accumulated points, and they are both +14 in goal difference. They are both dangerous offensively, particularly on the power play, and can play shut-down defence when needed.
“Discipline will be a key for us as Linkoping have a very good power play,” commented Indians assistant coach Johan Lundskog. “We know that we are hard to beat when we follow our game plan and will focus on the area close to goal on both sides of the rink.”
The two teams have met twice in SHL play this season and Linkoping won both – 3-2 in Gothenburg on 15 October and 3-0 at home on 26 November, in which Marcus Hogberg posted a 33-save shutout.
“We have lost twice to them in the SHL so we really want to win these two games. It is obviously good to know the other team. We know what we need to scalp. We know what works for us and we know what we need to work on because we have been losing two games,” Frolunda defenceman Henrik Tommernes told IIHF.com's Jeremy Darke. “At the same time they know a lot about our team so it is going to be a tough two games. We have been doing a good job until now on the games and we have been playing good two games in a row, because it is not just one game. Hopefully we can do some good things and do what we have been doing the whole season.”
Frolunda enter the game winners of eight of their last nine league games, with the lone loss coming to Linkoping. For their part, Linkoping have won eight of 11 and three in a row in the SHL, following a win in Malmo on Monday night.