SHL 2018/9 - Frölunda Indians win again in Sweden

03 May 2019Adrian J»

Gothenburg’s Frölunda Indians won the battle of Sweden’s two biggest cities as they took home a 4-2 final series win against Djurgården IF in Stockholm on Thursday night. Frölunda won every single game in the playoffs at home and were also unstoppable on the powerplay where they scored, on average, every other time they had a man-advantage.

The winner’s American forward, Ryan Lasch, repeated his record from the regular season by being the postseason’s top scorer as well as picking up the playoffs’ most valuable player award. Canadian Olympian, Chay Genoway became the highest scoring back in the playoffs in Swedish hockey history.

For Djurgården, it can only be a question of what-might-have-been. The reached the final after and majestic comeback against Färjestad BK and destroyed last year’s disappointment of losing in the semis to Skellefteå AIK. Particularly in the the first two matches they were the better side and in five-on-five play they were always dangerous. But with a man extra they more often than not failed to convert. In fact Frölunda’s Anaheim Ducks’ drafted, Max Friberg, is now the first player to score two shorthanded goals away from home in Swedish hockey history.

The Indians repeated the feat from 2015/6 when they last won the SHL championship by winning the double - the Champions Hockey League Trophy and they Le Mat Trophy in the same year - something no other European team has done.

Meanwhile captain and former Dallas Stars’ centre Joel Lundqvist raises the SHL trophy for the fourth time in his career. Naturally New York Rangers netminder, Henrik congratulated his twin brother: “so proud of this guy! Congratulations to Frölunda Indians and the whole of Gothenburg” he wrote on Twitter.