There are 59 points between Luleå and Gothenburg in the table. Luleå also had ten straight full-points, the latest against Gothenburg just as late as yesterday (5-2), and was lead favorite for the return meeting in the LF arena.
Therefore, many people raised their eyebrows when penalties separated the law.
- We took on the task too easily, says Luleå's point queen Petra Nieminen to NSD and continues:
- It sat in our heads today. We didn't play our best, and weren't good enough. We can play much better.
Luleå fired 50 shots on goal, but at least had a hard time with the dividend and was down by 0-1 for the third period. There, Petra Nieminen took the game to an extension with her 1-1 score in powerplay after 6.26. In the sentencing, then Jenni Hiirikoski, who became the lone goal scorer.
Thus, Luleå had to settle for two points in the hunt for series-leading HV71.
A lesson, says Jenni Hiirikoski.
- The good thing is that we learn to do our best every day. We didn't do that now. So this can be good for us in the long run, she says.
Trean Brynäs drove over Linköping by 4-1 and took his third straight victory, while the four Djurgården lost 0-2 to 3-2 after an extension away to Leksand.