After several years where Luleå dominated SHDL and took home the series in superior style, it has instead been HV71 which was superior at the beginning of the 2018/19 season.

And it started well today, when they met formidable Djurgården, who came to Jönköping with seven straight wins.

Ridgewell big game

It was HV71 that started the match strongest, and they also took the lead 6.05 in the second period when Michelle Löwenhielm in game five against three made 1-0.

And it was close that it was also 2-0, but Djurgården's big-play keeper Samantha Ridgewell made some really high-quality saves.

Hard HV pressure

But instead, Djurgården could turn in the third period, with three straight goals. The nail in the coffin, for the second day in a row, made the new national team player Josefine Bouveng, who in a three to one position put 3-1 at 52.39.

In the end, the HV71 pressed hard, but failed to make any reduction. As a result, Djurgården's victory suite was extended to eight games, while HV's fine suite with points in 13 straight matches ended.

HV71, however, retains the series lead, with ten points down to the new series race Djurgården.