Three key battles that will decide the SHL championships
1.Netminders: Mattson (FHC) v Reideborn (DIF)
Djurgården's Adam Reideborn won keeper of the year in 2017/8 and came in second this year behind Luleå's Joel Lassinantti with a 92.90 SVS% on the season ahead of both Frölunda's netminder Johan Mattsson.
The two keepers were both born in Stockholm and in 2013/4 were on the same Djurgården team when they were in the Hockeyallsvenskan.
Reideborn was the go-to-man playing two-thirds of the games that year. Since then the 27 year old has played five seasons in the SHL with his career best season coming last year as Djurgården made it to the semifinals. This will be his first Le Mat Trophy final series.
Whereas Reideborn shone in the regular season, the post season has been a different story, with Mattsson leading the way with an impressive 94.03 SVS%.
The 26 year old, 2011 draft pick for Chicago Blackhawks is only in his second season in the SHL and this is his first playoff run. Having the best season of his career, this will also be his first SHL final.
Backup keepers
The great advantage for Frölunda is that they have a tried and tested second choice keeper in Johan Gustavsson, whereas Djurgården's Robin Jensen is an unknown quantity.
The 23 year old Jensen has struggled in the playoffs matches he has played, for example, letting in six on home ice against Färjestad in the last round.
Whereas the Gothenburg team can boast in Johan Gustafsson, a 28 year old drafted by Minnesota Wild in 2010 who has played two seasons in the AHL with their development team, Iowa Wild, and has won the SHL/ CHL double with Frölunda in 2015/6.
Advantage: Frölunda
@ABritOnThinIce1
