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Wahlberg Shows the Way
Against his old club Almtuna, Mikael Wahlberg led the way to a comfortable win. "Sälen" (="The Seal") scored the first, assisted the third and won seventeen of his eighteen face-offs.
After the first period Malmö effectively had the game won with a four nil lead, a just reflection of the Redhawks effective offensive play. "We had strength, speed and finesse. We were committed and are tough to play against when we are in that form" said a happy Bergström after the 6-3 victory over Almtuna.
A Good Start
Malmö started a little sluggish and not very effectively. The 2398 supporters were expecting a tight, tough encounter between these two top teams in the league, but it was not to be. "The first four or five minutes were not so nice" thought Osten but he was much happier with the remaining 15 minutes if the opening period.
Wahlberg Showed the Way
The Almtuna players may claim that Markus Matthiasson screened Marcus Ragnarsson behind the net, Mikael Wahlberg made the most of it and pushed the puck into the net behind Gusten Törnqvist to make it one nil after just eight minutes of the opener. "A player behind the goal is not dangerous" agonized Almtuna trainer Robert Nordmark," It's been a while since Gretzky retired".
It got better. Niklas Jadeland made it two nil. Lubomir Sekeras made it 3-0 in the powerplay after good work from Wahlberg and Tomik and finally Markus Matthiasson made it four with a screamer to the corner.
Nordmark commented afterwards "In the first period we really did not have the right kind of tempo for a game with a team of Malmö's quality. The game ran away from us early and the fun was over." When asked what does he say to a team four nil down after twenty minutes he responded "We just take the lesson and look to the future. You want us to beat Rögle on Sunday, don't you?" He got a unanimous response from those in attendance.
A Positive Start to the Second
The Redhawks have a nasty habit of not playing well having built up a good lead in the first period. Often the players take it a little easy allowing the opposition back into the match. That wasn't the case this time. Jan Öberg made it five with the help of the post. "But they (Almtuna) worked hard and evened out the game out, at the same time as we took a little break" analysed "Osten" afterwards.
Gradually 5-0 became 5-2. First though an exemplary powerplay and later after some confusion in the defensive area. "It was a little sinful, Sekeras tried a back pass, it wasn't great to be at 5-2" said"Osten".
Praise for the"Gold Line"
But there was lots for"Osten" to be pleased with this afternoon, not just the three points.
"We were decisive, had more pace and took a whole new direction compared to last weekend's games. Wahlberg was great today and showed us the way, I think. I was really happy with the "Gold Line" where Wahlberg was centre. Matthiasson was good. Even the back pair of the "Gold Line"was effective with Hersley and Coleman. It was a really great today."
Ahlstrand was strong!
Patrik Ahlstrand gave more reason to keep confidence in him today. Three goal creating passes, not bad especially considering he was playing centre in the fourth line..
Savage and Björk get a break
Redhawks had two setbacks during today's game. Andre Savage went after the first change. A strain after the morning warm up reappeared and he stopped playing immediately. We will wait and see if he is ready for Sundays match. Björk had a concussion which normally requires a little rest but even in this case we will wait and see.
Answers to these questions will hopefully come tomorrow.
For stats on today's game click here
for pictures from the game click here.
Text: John Noonan
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