HV71 made it back to the SHL in the fastest possible way after the shock relegation in the spring of 2021.

Last year's successful team has largely been rebuilt and sharpened by new sports manager Kent Norberg.

So much so that HV71 is mentioned as a potential gold candidate.

But the premiere against last year's SC finalist Luleå showed that it can take a while before all the pieces fall into place.

Luleå dominated greatly, winning the shootout 33–13 – and had it not been for HV goalkeeper Joni Ortio's big play and the home team's inefficiency, the numbers could have been even higher.

Pressed HV

Admittedly, HV71 had two post shots – Sam Vigneault and Mikkel Bødker – but Luleå washed over their opponents for long periods in front of a sold-out home arena, 6,150 spectators.

However, it took just over half the match before Radek Muzik got it right with the home team's 20th shot on goal.

Soon after, Linus Fröberg also scored 2-0 in a five-on-four game.

- Luleå applies hard pressure and we don't get out of the zone.

When we do that, the passes don't sit.

It's annoying.

It is concentration and accuracy that is required, says Mattias Tedenby, the returning 32-year-old forward artist who won three SM golds with HV71, to C More.

"Wish us more"

HV71 had a four-minute long numerical superiority at the beginning of the second period, but only managed two shots against Joel Lassinantti in the Luleå goal, who kept his 40th SHL clean sheet.

- If we had made a match out of this, we would have had to make something of the numerical superiority.

We want more from each individual so that we can win a match like this, says coach Tommy Samuelsson to C More.

In the third period, Isac Brännström established 3–0.

Luleå has lost the forward stars Linus Omark and Pontus Andreasson and it was noticeable that the quality was lacking in the endings.

Finnish Olympic gold winner and former NHL profile Leo Komarov has entered, but Luleå is still on the hunt for a forward.

The 3-0 scorer Isac Brännström was satisfied with the premiere:

- There was a lot of adrenaline and a sick atmosphere.

The whole team played well today and I think it's an advantage that we didn't change so many players.

We are at a high level right from the start.