Ten recorded points during the first five rounds meant a start on Leksand's new SHL adventure. But then the autumn darkness pulled in over Siljan and the arrow that shows the valley team's shape curve has stuck in one direction, straight down. The match introduction gave no indication that a trend break was imminent. Home team back Linus Högberg immediately sent off an early puck that threw in behind a shady Axel Brage.
But despite a back-to-back goal after 15 seconds of play, and some shaky switches in his own defensive zone, Leksand repelled new courage. Linus Johansson acknowledged already before the period reached halfway.
"Decent"
A moment later Fredrik Forsberg got the puck donated by a Växjöback, and made sure Leksand was in the lead after 20 minutes played.
"We had some problems in the beginning, then we played well," said Roger Melin, coach at Leksand, in a break interview in C More.
All of the ice players have lost a lot during the fall, which left their mark on the match picture. Two gangs with broken self-confidence alternated brilliant moments in the vicinity of the opponent's goal with anxious exchanges in their own defensive zone. The second period became speechless and Växjö was the team that needed to hunt.
Blue-white cheer
The home team turned up the pressure and Leksand seemed with ever greater difficulty to clear his goal cage. Växjö received a dividend when Marcus Davidsson arranged the receipt.
But Leksand got the last word. Fredrik Forsberg took advantage of yet another mistake by Växjö and left the puck with 29 seconds left to play.
4–2 put Mattias Karlsson in empty Växjökasse and the blue and white cheer increased. After nine straight disappointments, Leksand had won again