Defending champions Frölunda up and running

Frölunda win first game in defense of trophy
Joel Lundqvist on the scoresheet for the defending champions
Late goal the only highlight for hosts

BK Mladá Boleslav lining-up for the opening game of the 2021/22 CHL season (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

Frölunda goalie Niklas Rubin warming up (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

(Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

A job well done for Frölunda Gothenburg (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

Despite winning the game, it wasn't all plain sailing for Frölunda (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

(Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

Ryan Lasch back in action in the CHL (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

Niklas Rubin pulled off some big saves (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

Frölunda are off to Switzerland to face ZSC Lions Zurich next (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

Mladá Boleslav goalie Jan Růžička (Photo: Jan Pavlicek)

A three-goal first period helped defending champions Frölunda Gothenburg to an opening day win in the Czech Republic, beating BK Mladá Boleslav by 4-1.

Jens Olsson scored the first goal of this season’s Champions Hockey League 8:50 into the game, and then the familiar sight of Ryan Lasch dishing the puck to Joel Lundqvist doubled the visitors’ lead with 4:12 left in the period.

Things went from bad to worse for Mladá Boleslav, who found themselves three down 17 seconds before the end of the opening period as Patrik Carlsson found the net.

If the Czech side had a mountain to climb at three behind, then this opening day fixture was suddenly becoming their Everest as Filip Johansson sniped a fourth midway through the middle period to put Frölunda into a hefty lead.

The lone bright spark for the hosts was Mário Lunter opening their CHL tally for the season at 55:37 and breaking Niklas Rubin’s shutout.

See also: Recap BK Mladá Boleslav Frölunda Gothenburg Season 2021/22 Group B Jens Olsson