Karvinen Scores Season’s Fastest Hat Trick as Frölunda Cruises to Victory

Adela Sapovalivova’s four assist night was overshadowed by Michelle Karvinen’s three goals in five minutes, highlighting the night of SDHL action.

HV71 2 – SDE 3 OT

HV71 came into this game looking for a win, having lost four of their last five. SDE remained in search of what they have been lacking all season: consistency. Only once this campaign has the team managed to string together three straight wins, despite boasting an experienced roster full of international stars.

Things started well for SDE when, seven minutes into the opening frame, veteran Lisa Johansson received a centering pass from captain Julie Zwarthoed and hooked the puck around the outstretched toe of HV goalie Svejdova to give SDE a 1-0 lead. HV71 equalised minutes later, when Kennedy Bobyck forced a turnover deep in SDE’s zone. The puck made its way to Emmi Rakkolainen who snapped the puck past Kassidy Sauvé. The goal against, like so many of SDE’s struggles this season, was self-inflicted: a puck overhandled under pressure, a miscommunication, and a lack of support essentially handed Rakkolainen a prime scoring chance, and she made it count.

Undaunted, SDE retook the lead in the second period when defender Lotti Odnoga received an Emma Bergesen pass in the high slot, dangled, and snapped the puck bar down to make it 2-1 SDE. HV, ever patient, stuck to their game plan — they forechecked and backchecked as an organized unit and they supported the puck well, giving their skill players the confidence and support to make plays at high speed. Their teamwork was rewarded with just over six minutes remaining when speedy Hilda Svensson turned on the jets to burn two defenders before ripping the puck past Sauvé to knot the game at 2-2.

A thrilling overtime period was finally ended when SDE goalie Sauvé made a long heads up pass to Odnoga as two exhausted HV defenders attempted to make a line change. Odnoga advanced the puck to Zwarthoed at the blue line, sending her in alone on Svejdova. Zwarthoed made no mistake and scored to give SDE the win.

SDE faces Frölunda in Göteborg on Sunday, while HV71 meets Leksand at home in Jönköping.

Linköping 0 – MoDo 7

Linköping’s Ebba Svensson Träff has been a shutout machine this season, and had registered five clean sheets in only 14 starts prior to this match. MoDo, apparently, did not get the memo, as they scored four goals in the opening frame en route to a convincing 7-0 victory on Friday evening. Burgeoning young MoDo talent Adéla Šapovalivová registered three first period assists on goals from Lovisa Engström, Lauren Bellefontaine and Vendula Pribylova, and added one more later to finish the night with four points.

In the second period, still trailing 4-0, LHC worked hard to get back in the game. They forced a number of MoDo turnovers with their heavy forecheck. Star forwards Sara Hjalmarsson and Lova Blom caused MoDo headaches and turnovers, but neither could solve goaltender Andrea Brändli, who ended the evening with an 18 save shutout, her second of the season.

Linköping will need to regroup quickly, as they face Brynäs on Sunday afternoon. MoDo will play against Djurgården in Stockholm.

Frölunda 5 – Leksand 1

Bottom-dwellers Leksand hopped out to an unexpected 1-0 first period lead when Saga Tynell-Nissas scored her sixth of the season on an early power play. The period was fairly even, with each team putting up 11 shots.

The Frölunda offense, led by veteran Michelle Karvinen, woke up in the second. First, Karvinen scored on the power play at 24:52 to tie the game 1-1. Three minutes later, Karvinen scored again, assisted by linemates Andrea Dalen and Hanna Olsson. At 29:37, Karvinen finished her hat trick and the score was suddenly 3-1 Frölunda. Sanni Rantala and Hanna Olsson added goals of their own as Frölunda eventually cruised to a 5-1 win.

Leksand will try to right the ship on Sunday when they play HV71 away. Frölunda meets SDE at home in Göteborg.