Luleå has been a consistent top team in recent years in the SHL, so you are not used to losing four straight games.

It was therefore a tagged Luleå who grabbed the roof stick at home against HV71 where Joel Lassinantti was back in the goal for the first time since it became clear in mid-January that he would return after his adventure in Russia.

First, Arttu Ilomaki set the lead goal and just 32 seconds before the first period break, Linus Klasen extended by five to three with his eighth goal of the season.

HV close to catching up

The next goal would also come in powerplay when Filip Hållander scored third, just 12 seconds into second.

HV would reduce but Luleå managed to increase to 4-1.

But HV71 had far from given up the match, and after two quick goals in the closing period by Anton Wedin, his second goal of the match, and Fredrik Forsberg, it was suddenly 4-3.

But HV would not come any closer than that and they are now in twelfth place in the table.

"Pretty rusty and angular"

Joel Lassinantti, who thus had to let go of three pucks, said that it was a bit rusty to play the match again after a long break.

- It was quite rusty and angular, it did not go by itself all the time but I fought on and managed to get some puck on me, he says to Cmore about his own efforts.