Färjestad BK v Djurgården IF
When the top team took on the fourth placed team fans were treated to high scoring series, full of drama that went all the way to a match seven decider in Karlstad.
The regular season's top scoring defenseman and Finn Jesse Virtanen scored twice for Färjestad in Match 1. That contributed to a 5-2 home win for the regular season winners.
In match 2 in Stockholm all seemed to going well for the Karlstad team who went ahead 2-0 with goals from Michael Lindqvist and Marcus Nilsson. Lindqvist started the season at New York Rangers' AHL development team, Hartford Wolf Pack and would end night on 2G+1A. But that was not before Djurgården fought their way to a 5-3 win with Chicago Blackhawks drafted Robin Norell scoring the Game Winning Goal as well as an assist on Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Emil Bemström's 2-2 equalizing goal for the Stockholm club.
Game 3 saw the Stockholm team win again. This time it was the 31 year old former Färjestad forward Dick Axelsson who slotted home the winner in a 2-1 game.
And that trend continued in Game 4 in Stockholm where Sebastian Strandberg (pictured), Mattias Guter and Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Daniel Brodin making it 3-1 on the night and 3-1 in games to Djurgården.
But just when it looked like they were out, Färjestad would mounted the mother of all comebacks outscoring their opponents 12-3 in the next two two games.
On home ice in Match 5, Färjestad destroyed their opponents 8-2 (!) with Detroit Red Wings drafted Johan Ryno coming out tops with 3G+1A and team mate Marcus Nilsson also gaining four points with 1G+3A.
And it was again the undrafted 26 year old Nilsson who was leading points getter in Match 6 with 2G+1A. They inflicted an embarrassing 1-6 defeat of Djurgården in front of their home fans at Hovet.
The momentum seemed have shifted and Färjestad were now favourites in a mouthwatering game seven in Karlstad.
The teams enter the third period even at 1-1 but after just two minutes, none other than Djurgården's Dick Axelsson countered to make it 1-2 to the away team. That lead to a mad scramble with both teams knowing that the next goal would most like be the game, and series, decider.
And it was none other than defector Axelsson who stole the puck again and countered flipping a beautifully weighted pass to Sebastian Strandberg to found the net past Markus Svensson for his second goal of the game.
Like his opponent Lindqvist, Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, the Washington Capitals drafted forward started the season in the AHL before returning to Sweden. At it was the 21 year old scored the empty netter to make it 1-4 to Djurgården, but more importantly sent them to the final 4-3 on games after last year's bitter disappointment when they went out in the semis themselves.
The Final
Djurgården IF will meet Frölunda Indians in Gothenburg on Sunday with the Champions Hockey League winners with home ice advantage.
@ABritOnThinIce1
