On home ice, HV71 Jonkoping hold off a charge by the Sheffield Steelers and win 5-3. Read more in Gamecentre.

For almost two periods, it looked like the Sheffield Steelers would only stay in their game against HV71 Jonkoping for as long as Latvian goaltender Ervins Mustukovs would hold them in it. 32-11 were the shots for HV71 after 40 minutes but the score was just 3-2.

It was 1-1 halfway through the game but then a pair of HV71 goals four minutes apart seemed to signify that the end was near. However, a Mike Ratchuk marker late in the second period gave the Steelers hope and then Robert Dowd tied it early in the third, to the suprise of many. The visitors from Sheffield pushed hard for the equalizer, out-shooting HV71 11-9 in the last period but a pair of penalties gave the momentum back and Dylan Reese scored the game-winner on the power play with 9:12 to go.

Afterward Reese said, “I think the best thing about this game is that we won. We did some good things and we did some bad things, I think we played sloppy at times. The second period we got a little back on our heels and  they took it to us. We were good on the power play – that’s really important for the future.” As for his own game, he said, “I always try to do as much as I can in both ends. It’s nice to score. My focus the last seasons has been trying to get puck to the net, it doesn’t matter if the shots are hard, I just try to get it to the goal. I like the big ice and I think it suits my game pretty well. I’m a skating defencemen and I try to keep my speed and play the puck and start offensive plays.”

Par Arlbrandt scored the fifth goal, which along with two assists made it a three-point night for him, as HV71 escaped with a 5-3 win.

“You don't like to lose games, no matter who you play against,” Sheffield coach Paul Thompson said afterward. “I thought it took 10 minutes for us to get going. We didn't manage the puck too well – maybe we were a little bit nervous and they were pressing on us early. But I thought we worked our way through that and in the second period we created some quality chances and managed the puck a lot better. We dragged our way into the third period but they're a great team, and if you give them the chances ... I think the penalties we took decided the outcome of the game.”