Timrå IK claimed a commanding 5-1 victory over their local rivals Modo Hockey during the highly anticipated surströmmingsderby at the SCA Arena on Saturday evening. The match showcased Timrå's authoritative performance, particularly during the second period, where they dominated the ice and capitalized on Modo's defensive lapses.
The evening began with excitement, as Timrå's team captain, Anton Lander, managed to break the deadlock just eleven minutes in. Fans erupted with joy when Lander found the back of the net after Modo's goalie, Olle Eriksson Ek, made several early saves, only for the Timrå captain to net the first goal with precision. "It feels great from the start; I’ve felt good the last few weeks, so it’s really nice," said Erik Walli-Walterholm, who played a key role throughout the game.
Just minutes later, Walli-Walterholm extended Timrå's lead to 2-0 during a power play. The dynamic exchange caught Modo off-guard, and the home team continued their offensive pressure, keeping Modo's defense on their toes. Expert analysis highlighted how Modo seemed stagnant during this stretch, with coach Mattias Karlin saying, "We are completely worthless in the second [period]. It’s hard to play hockey when you stand still."
The second period saw more drama as Timrå's dominance continued. A notable misfortune for Modo occurred during this period when Linus Nässén's shot unintentionally bounced off Lukas Jasek's skate and redirected past Eriksson Ek for what was effectively a self-goal, bringing the score to 3-0.
Things only worsened for Modo. Erik Walli-Walterholm scored again, marking his second goal of the night and driving the score to 4-0. Following this goal, the Modo coaching staff made the decision to replace Eriksson Ek with junior goalie Ebbe Lundberg to protect the young player's confidence, acknowledging the tough night for their starting goalie. "Olle had not his day; it was more about saving him for the future," stated Karlin, emphasizing the choice as more of a strategic move.
With the third period underway, Timrå continued applying pressure, and it was Filip Hållander who added another point to the board, bringing the tally to 5-0. Modo finally managed to find some reprieve with less than three minutes left on the clock when Paul LaDue scored, marking the team's first and only goal of the evening. But it was too little too late, as the scoreboard settled at 5-1.
The loss left Modo reeling, now eight points adrift from safety, struggling to find their footing this season. Star defenseman Mattias Norlinder reflected on the defeat saying, “We didn’t want it to say 5-0 on the scoreboard.” His frustration echoed the sentiments shared by the rest of the team, who continue to battle through adversity but find it increasingly challenging.
The victorious Timrå players, meanwhile, celebrated the win, especially Walli-Walterholm, who felt vindicated after receiving some criticism earlier. "I got some flak from Nubben [Kent Norberg, assistant sports director] on New Year for needing to improve. He'll probably keep it coming though," he joked after the match.
With the derby's intensity now behind them, both teams are gearing up for the next phase of the season, with Timrå riding high on their recent success and Modo acknowledging the need for significant improvements before they can threaten the standings again.