HV71 Jonkoping left winger Martin Thornberg is once again the CHL's Top Scorer after scoring 2 goals against Sparta Prague. The game took place in an arena that Thornberg has played in before, and with some ex-teammates on the other side. 

by Derek O'Brien

PRAGUE – With 2 goals on Tuesday night, HV71 Jonkoping's Martin Thornberg has regained his spot atop the CHL scoring leaders with 11 points – 6 goals and 5 assists – in seven games. Both of his goals were the results of nice passes and he credits the players around him and the overall team play for his individual success.

“The team's playing really well. I'm playing with good linemates and that's it,” he said after HV71's 4-2 victory over Sparta Prague. 

As he has most of the season, Thornberg lined up on the left side of HV71's top line, centred by Ted Brithen with Par Arlbrandt on the right wing. Five weeks ago, just before the start of the CHL's Round of 32, he spoke about both of them with Championshockeyleague.net's Anders Borjesson:

"Brithen had problems with injuries last season. This year, he's really stepped up and played as well as we know he can do when he's on top. He had a really good season in 2014-15 and is on his way to that form again.

"Arlbrandt is a really good player with lots of skill. He can make the passes that give me opportunities. I think our line works very well on the ice and we suit each other's playing styles."

On his first goal on Tuesday, which came in the first minute of the second period, it was a pass from Arlbrandt that sent Thornberg in on a breakaway. He beat goaltender Filip Novotny with a backhand deke.

“I don't know what happened,” he said about the goal. “Arlbrandt made a good play and I don't know how he got the puck, but it came to me and I put it in the net.”

The goal put HV71 up 2-0. With the score 2-1 later in the middle frame, Thornberg struck again, although this time his usual line was not together.

“The second one was a good pass from (Kevin) Stenlund and I was totally open in the middle of the ice. I had a lot of time to aim the shot so it was a good goal.”

With the score 4-1 entering the third period, HV71 were in a good situation, but Sparta came back with a push in the third period and reduced the score difference to two.

“We let an easy goal in there in the third period,” he said about the breakaway goal by Lukas Pech. “I don't know what happened – they had one guy really high and the puck went straight to his stick, so it was a bad play. Of course we're not happy that our lead went down a little bit, but still we're in a pretty good spot for next time.”

For Thornberg, it was his first time playing at O2 Arena since the 2014 KHL Gagarin Cup Finals, when he was a member of Lev Prague, facing Metallurg Magnitogorsk in a memorable series that went the full seven games.

“Yeah, of course I remember. It was a great feeling when we played in the playoffs here – this place was so loud and energetic. Skating onto the ice here, all those memories come back, so it's fun to be back and I hope to be back here again some time soon.”

HV71 teammate Erik Christensen also briefly played with Thornberg in Prague. Three current Sparta players were also members of the team.

“I spoke a little bit with Petr Vrana, Lukas Cingel and Juraj Mikus. It was nice to see them and it was nice to beat them too,” he added with a smile.

However, he's not too comfortable heading into next week's game, because he knows what some of his ex-teammates and the rest of Sparta are capable of.

“It's always open until the end,” he warned. “They have a really strong team and they can play at a high level, but we're really strong at home and if we can play another good game like we did today, then we're confident. I look forward to the game.”