the Reigning Swedish champion in Växjö never got around to it in the playoffs. Smalanders lost the first three matches in the quarter-final against Luleå and managed to not trip itself, despite the victory in the fourth match.
Luleå won the fifth meeting 4-1 at home in the Coop Norrbotten Arena and is now ready for the semifinals for the first time since 2016.
” As I see it we have a chance to go all the way, said coach Thomas ”Bulan” Berglund to C More.
showed the way with the twin objectives of the first (1-0) 14.53 in the first period, the second (2-0) with six seconds left in the second, and saw to it that dozens linked the grip on the match in which Växjö had a hard time to create modes.
I think that you should deliver each day. This is a match like any other for me, but a little more on the game and then to thrive. I think it’s fun to play right now, ” said Erik Gustafsson to C More before the third period.
He also talked about Luleå ”would not be back home”.
And they did not.
, who went out in the second round last year, took his team captain at his word and extended to both 3-0 (Petter Emanuelsson) and 4-0 (Emil Larsson) in the third period, before the Växjö could tröstmåla to 1-4 by Kris Versteeg with 27 seconds left in the game.
Afterwards the said Thomas Berglund Luleå fifth match was also the team’s best.
– It shows in the class. Many of the team have not played finals before and then it is easy to become nervous. Then it is to channel the tension on the right way and I think we do. I’m proud of that. It’s damn nice to see that the guys are capable of it.
the Advance means that Luleå is the first team that is ready for the semifinals.
For Växjö part is the season is over.
– We lack the ”edge”, both the episcopal and offensively. It is where it is determined, ” said coach Sam Hallam to C More. We would have done a better job all the way to the finals in order to be better prepared.
