RBK–VLH 3–2 (e. f.): Rögle against SM final

Lukas Ekeståhl-Jonsson’s back shot was guided into the goal by a Växjö player and Rögle also won the third semi-final against Växjö – in the fifth period. The green and whites from Ängelholm now have a 3-0 lead in matches. You are close to the SM final.

Rögle–Växjö 3–2 (sd)

(1–0, 1–1, 0–1, 0–0, 1–0)

First period:
1–0, 3:21, Rodrigo Abols (Lukas Ekeståhl-Jonsson, Adam Tambellini) (PP)
Second period:
2–0, 11:56, Linus Sandin (Albin Sundsvik, Rodrigo Abols) (PP)
2–1, 13:19, Filip Eriksson (Joachim Blichfeld, Dylan McLaughlin)
Third period:
2–2, 15:55, Filip Eriksson (Gabriel Carlsson, Joachim Blichfeld)
Fifth period:
3–2, 3:34, Lukas Ekeståhl-Jonsson (Rodrigo Abols, Linus Sandin) (PP)

Shot: 29–36 (8–13, 8–12, 8–6, 2–5, 3–0)
Expulsions: Rögle: 2 x 2 min. Växjö: 6 x 2 min.
Public: 6310

After Rögle’s two surprising victories against the second base series in Växjö, the semi-final series moved to Ängelholm.
With unchanged results.
That is to say: Rögle continued to win.

On this night, it was the power play that was the medicine. All three goals came in that style of play – and on all three goals, the same five outfield players were on the ice: Lukas Ekeståhl-Jonsson, Adam Tambellini, Linus Sandin, Rodrigo Abols and Albin Sundsvik.
Noah Östlund hit Adam Engström’s club hard and was sent off for slashing in the players’ first change.
In the first numerical disadvantage of the match, Ekeståhl-Jonsson nicely played forward Rodrigo Abols, who put it in from close range.
The hot Abols then came close to making it 2-0 a couple of minutes later, but was stopped by the away team’s skilled goalkeeper Emil Larmi.
Rögle dominated and Växjö’s best chance of the period came in a numerical disadvantage when Keegan Lowe finished from close range on a counterattack, but Christoffer Rifalk saved.

After the next Växjö expulsion, it would ring again.
Sundsvik played diagonally inwards to Sandin, who shot at the post – and then put in his own return from close range.

Then the away team started. Filip Eriksson reduced the score a couple of minutes after the 2–0 goal and with four minutes left in the third period there was also an equalizer when Eriksson struck again.
The match to extra time.

In the fourth period, Växjö got an early numerical advantage where they put a lot of pressure on Rögle. Lian Bichsel made a brutal shot cover and Markus Sylvegård shot wide in a good position.
Otherwise, the period was generally quite poor. Rögle got two more power plays, but it was in a five-on-five game that Adam Engström and Linus Sandin came close to deciding on a powerful double chance, where the former outsmarted Emil Larmi, but hit defender Brian Cooper – before the latter hit the goal frame.

This was the fourth overtime Rögle in this playoff – and for the fourth time they would emerge victorious from the battle.
And this time the decision was made in the fifth period.

Early in this one, Hugo Gustafsson went out for a high stick.
Powerplay for Rögle again.
Ekeståhl-Jonsson shot from the blue line.
The puck seemed to go outside the goal, but everything is going Rögle’s way right now.
It hit Keegan Lowe, who safely (figuratively speaking) sank through the ice as he watched the puck bounce off his hip into the goal.
Match settled.
3–0 in matches for Rögle.
Twelfth victory in a row.

Just like the previous matches in the semi-final series, the match was relatively even, but Rögle’s defensive skill, sharpness – and fluidity – in the decisive situations was a road winner again.
The next match in the semi-final series will be played on Thursday. If Rögle wins, they are ready for the SM final.

Photo: Bildbyrån