Lukko need goals at home

In the first game in Jonkoping, HV71 got a pair of goals early, then played solid defence the rest of the way and hung on to win 2-0. 

“We came out great and scored two quick goals and played the game pretty well I think,” said centre Ted Brithen, who scored the second goal.

Brithen's line, which includes CHL top scorer Martin Thornberg, had some great chances to add a third goal, which would have really given them a stranglehold on the series, but just couldn't connect again.

“Of course we went for it if we got the chance, but we wanted to make sure we didn't lose the puck too easily. Maybe we dumped the puck a little too often instead of taking it into the zone like you do when you’ve got momentum in the game,” he said.

Nonetheless, HV71 have the advantage heading into the road half of this two-game total-goal series. Coming back is not an impossible task, but to do so, Lukko will have to do some things differently.

“We have to get our offensive game going,” Lukko defenceman Janne Niskala said. “We spent too much time in our own zone. Just get the momentum going and don't take too many penalties. We are confident that we can turn this series around – it's only two goals. Last year we were down too and managed to turn it around.” 

Last season, Lukko made it all the way to the Semi-Finals and the season before they made it to the Quarters, where they lost to eventual champions Lulea Hockey. As for HV71, last season was the first time they made it as far as the Round of 16, and they're one more shut-down defensive effort away from returning.

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