The Frölunda Indians find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Following a 6-5 shootout loss to the Graz99ers and a 3-2 regulation-time loss to Mountfield HK, the Indians took just one of six possible points from their first two home games and find themselves last place in Group H.
“We did a couple of things better today compared with the last game against Graz,” said forward Rhett Rakhshani immediately after the second game. “I think the performance was okay. We played hard but we have to give them credit as well they are a great team and it was I close game. We need to right up some areas in front of the net – that’s how they got their game-winner – and protect the puck better. There are a lot of things that we can improve on.”
Rakhshani supplied all of Frölunda’s offence against, scoring both goals on the power play. The first one came late in the second period on a nice set up by fellow American Ryan Lasch and the second came late in the third. In both cases, the goals brought the Indians to within one, but they were never able to get the equalizer.
“It’s always nice to get on the board. I want to get some more shots on the net but two power-play goals – that’s something I’m trying to take pride in, being a factor on the PP. It’s nice to get rewarded.”Rhett Rakhshani (forward, Frölunda Indians)
With just one point from their two home games, Frölunda will now need to pick up some points against the same two teams on the road. That starts with a game in Graz on Thursday.
“We can’t give them the good chances, we can give them the outside chances but we need to be tighter,” he said. “And we also need to generate more 5-on-5 chances. We haven’t been so good at that lately.”
After playing in Graz on Thursday and in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic on Saturday, Frölunda will complete their Group H schedule with a pair of games against the Cardiff Devils in October.