It wasn’t the best to the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League season for the Frölunda Indians.
The reigning champions finished their first two games with just one point to their name, with a shootout loss to the Graz99ers and regulation loss to Mountfield HK despite the Swedish side playing both games on home ice.
But their fortunes changed in the second week of CHL action as the team took a full complement of six points on their road trip, with a convincing 5-1 win over Graz and then a narrow win over Mountfield.
Netminder Johan Mattsson stopped 27 shots against Mountfield to help Frölunda secure three points to move his side into second spot in Group H and close to qualification for the Playoffs.
“In two tough games the result ran away from us, and in this one we had to fight for it which makes it even nicer.”Frölunda goalie Johan Mattsson following the teams 4-3 win over Mountfield HK.
“I think we worked hard last game. Maybe we stepped it up a little bit today. But mainly I think it is that we are playing as a team and trust each other.
“I get the chance to rest when we have power play and I have to work harder when we have penalty kill.
“I think our penalty kill did great today it felt like Mountfield didn’t get any chances, so all the credit to them.”
Twenty-seven year old Mattsson is entering his third season with Frölunda after he moved to the team in 2017.
Frölunda now prepare for the start of their domestic campaign which they begin against Brynås IF, before returning to CHL action in October where they’ll look to secure their spot in the Playoffs as they take on the Group H leading Cardiff Devils.