Just a while ago, the team had three straight wins and top position in the table. Then a couple of losses followed and possibly there were some doubts if the SHL reality caught up with it, in advance, so bottom-tipped newcomer Oskarshamn.

Long-lasting

HV71 came to derby on the Småland east coast with a big victory in "E4 derby" against Linköping in fresh memory. Loud on the crowded stands and entertaining games from both teams made the party.

Although the game sometimes offered high-level entertainment, the match was speechless for a good while. Both Oskarshamn and HV71 were granted their opportunities to play powerplay and both teams then managed to create really sharp goal chances. But the match's goalkeepers, Tex Williamsson in Oskarshamn and HV71's 18-year-old Hugo Alnefelt, performed both games of high class.

With just over seven minutes left of the second period, Oskarshamn took the lead. Nichlas Hardt made no mistake when Tyler Kelleher's magical passport reached his blade.

"He is a special player, extremely grateful to play with him," goalie Hardt said of Kelleher in a break interview with C More.

Brilliant goalie parade

Oskarshamn was in a position to overturn well-established "big brothers" from the northwest part of the landscape. Rok Ticar, on freshly washed ice, got the chance to expand on penalty shots, but young Alnefelt in the HV goal made a brilliant parade.

Almost halfway into the third period came the turn when Markus Lauridsen and Anthony Camara netted for HV71. But Oskarshamn's Isaac Pantzare countered with a receipt puck.

After 60 minutes of play, it was clear that both teams would leave the ice with points. Christian Sandberg scored the victory for HV71.