Möller scores three in Elitserien opener

13 Sep 2012 | Henrik Lundqvist

Elitserien opened tonight with five close games and a big win for Skellefteå against MODO. Oscar Möller was the player of the day with three goals. A new rule decides the game Färjestad-HV71.

Skellefteå got a perfect start of the Elitserien season. MODO was defeated 5-1 after 4-0 in the first period. Oscar Möller scored three goals and George Holloway assisted to four in Skellefteå Kraft Arena. Tomas Skogs and Oscar Lindberg also scored for Skellefteå while Richie Regehr scored MODO’s goal.

The game between Färjestad and HV71 was decided with a kick. Jesper Fasth scored the overtime winner for HV71 with his skate at 63:18. According to the new Elitserien rules it is allowed to kick the puck into the net as long as you don’t lift the skate from the ice.

"It is no real goal, but it counts", says Färjestad's coach Leif Carlsson to C More.

Luleå who have had an amazing run in the European Trophy beat newcomer Rögle 3-1 on the road. Kim Hirschovits scored two goals including an empty netter in the last minute when Rögle had pulled their Swiss goalie Martin Gerber.

Pär Arlbrandt and Carl Söderström both had a goal and an assists when Linköping beat Frölunda 2-1 away in Scandinavium. Magnus Kahnberg scored the only goal for the home team with three minutes remaining.

Niklas Nordgren is back in Timrå, the club that he represented 2001-2005. In the first game he got the overtime winner when AIK was defeated 2-1. Joacim Rohdin scored for Timrå in the second period and Fredrik Hynning, former Timrå player, tied it with nine minutes remaining.

Last season’s champion Brynäs got a shootout win against Växjö Lakers in the opener. Jörgen Sundqvist scored 1-0 for Brynäs at 31 seconds and the equalizer wouldn’t come until 59:43 when the Finnish veteran Tomi Kallio scored for Växjö. Växjö got a power play in the overtime period but failed to get the win much thanks to the Brynäs goalie Johan Holmqvist. Andreas Thuresson decided the game with a beautiful shoot-out goal.