Frölunda Gothenburg are not the reigning European champions, as they are used to being at the start of a new Champions Hockey League season, but their powerplay is as dangerous as ever. Thanks to three powerplay goals – two scored by Max Friberg and assisted by Ryan Lasch – they opened the new season with a 4-2 victory over Mountfield HK in a rematch of the 2019/20 CHL Final.

Mountfield struck first with the lone goal in the first period but Frölunda stormed back with three straight in the second period.

At 8:35, captain Radek Smoleňák opened the scoring when he capitalized on a neutral-zone turnover and skated down the right wing on a partial breakaway before beating Lars Johansson with a wrist shot under the blocker.

But two quick Frölunda goals early in the second period quickly turned things around. It took just 24 seconds for the home team to tie the score, with captain Joel Lundqvist backhanding a pass out front and Robin Lenc getting a couple of whacks at it from in close, scoring on his second attempt. Then 55 seconds later, they took the lead on the power play when Anthony Greco’s snapshot hit a falling Jacob Nilsson in front and went in.

With less than a minute to go in the middle frame, Frölunda went up by two on another powerplay. Lasch added to his all-time CHL-leading assists and points totals with a perfect pass that provided Friberg with an easy tap-in at the side of the net.

Oliver Okuliar brought Mountfield back to within a goal with still plenty of time left when he put in a rebound at 45:38, but just over three minutes later, Frölunda got it back. Friberg scored his second power-play goal of the game and Lasch got his second power-play assist. Pontus Johansson took a hard shot that Jan Růžička stopped, but it fell loose and Friberg put it in.

After that, Mountfield never seriously threatened again, and Frölunda skated off with the win.