HV71 continued their impressive comeback story with a decisive 4–2 victory over Frölunda during their SHL hockey matchup at Scandinavium on December 19, 2024. This win marks HV71's sixth victory out of their last seven games, showcasing their renewed strength on the ice.
The match began with HV71 establishing dominance early, with Måns Lindbäck scoring the opening goal at 7:06 with support from Oscar Engsund and Mikael Seppälä. The momentum quickly built as Joona Luoto increased the lead to 2–0 just minutes later at 11:13. Radan Lenc extended the gap even more, netting HV71's third goal at 23:19, much to the frustration of Frölunda's fans.
Frölunda, struggling to find their footing, managed to reduce the deficit with Linus Högberg's goal at 27:40, but HV71 retaliated with Olle Alsing's goal at 36:46, bringing the score to 4–1 before the second period concluded. Christian Folin of Frölunda managed to score with just under three minutes left, closing the gap to 2–4, but it was too little, too late.
HV71's strong performance has turned their season around after having experienced six consecutive defeats less than a month prior. Head coach Anton Blomqvist expressed pride in his team's effort, stating, "I think we come here today and work incredibly hard. Olof (Glifford) made some huge saves to keep us competitive.” Glifford, the young goaltender, had 34 saves and was instrumental to his team’s success.
On the flip side, Frölunda's struggles were apparent. Coach Roger Rönnberg, facing his 769th match as SHL coach—setting the record for the most matches—was visibly upset with his team's performance. Rönnberg stated, "I’m really disappointed. I’ve had twelve days to prepare my team for this match, and we look like this. It’s insanely naive. We must improve our mindset to avoid such outcomes.”
The criticism extended to individual players as well, with Rönnberg noting the lack of execution and discipline on the ice. Captain Max Friberg emphasized the need for his team to regain their focus: “We’re playing open hockey and it shows HV71 we’re not invincible.” Considering the challenges they face, Frölunda is now at risk of losing ground as they enter their next match against Linköping.
The defeat leaves Frölunda at fourth place, raising concerns among their supporters about the team's current form. Meanwhile, HV71 now lies just two points away from safety, revitalizing hopes for their season as they enter the holiday break.
Both teams will need to regroup swiftly, as they each face key games within the next week: Frölunda will take on Linköping at home on December 26, and HV71 will host Luleå at the same date.
