Leksand staged a comeback to win 5-2 against Djurgården in Avicii Arena, overturning a 0-2 deficit in the SHL match. The victory keeps Leksand in the fight against relegation. Coach Johan Hedberg praised the team's resilience and the impact of new assistant Mattias Ritola.
Djurgården started strongly in their home game against Leksand, taking a 2-0 lead within the first three minutes at Avicii Arena. Joe Snively scored the opener at 1:30, described by commentator Richard Hermansson as a 'klassmål' after entering the zone and shooting into the top corner. Anton Frondell added his 17th goal of the season shortly after, converting his own rebound following a strong shift.
Leksand responded quickly through Tinus Luc Koblar, who capitalized on a rebound from goaltender Magnus Hellberg to make it 2-1. The game remained competitive into the second period, where Leksand turned the momentum, taking a 3-2 lead. They pulled away in the third, securing a 5-2 victory despite Djurgården's early pressure and forecheck.
Post-game, Leksand coach Johan Hedberg highlighted the team's adjustments: 'We expected Djurgården to come out hard... Very important to get an early reduction by Tinus. That gives us confidence.' He commended the performance over the final 55 minutes, noting strong penalty kill, power play goals, and goaltender Filip Larsson's reliability. Hedberg also emphasized the contributions of Mattias Ritola, who joined the coaching staff in mid-February with responsibility for power play: 'Mattias has meant a lot... It gives more clarity on who decides what. It's two smart hockey eyes more and it gives more time for the guys.'
Frondell, reflecting on Djurgården's first period, said: 'We get a 2-0 lead early... Feels like we have a lot of puck in their zone and create chances.' Djurgården stuck with the same lineup from their recent 4-0 win over HV71, with Hellberg in net and Charles Hudon returning from injury. Leksand's win provides crucial points in their battle to avoid negative qualification, while Djurgården aims to solidify their playoff position.
