Björklöven defeated Södertälje 2-0 in the fourth game of their HockeyAllsvenskan playoff semifinal, taking a 3-1 series lead. Goals came from Joel Mustonen and Daniel Brodin, with Frans Tuohimaa recording a 32-save shutout. A fight between Teemu Väyrynen and Linus Cronholm highlighted the physical play.
Björklöven controlled the game in Scaniarinken, limiting Södertälje's chances despite early pressure. Joel Mustonen scored the opener on a play assisted by Philip Hemmyr, who stepped in for the suspended Albin Lundin. Daniel Brodin netted his first playoff goal late, deflecting the puck past the goaltender for the 2-0 final. Tuohimaa stood tall, saving all 32 shots faced in his strongest performance of the series. Daniel Brodin credited the team's defensive structure and puck possession. “Noggrannheten med pucken, passningsspelet och när vi får ner pucken i anfallszon, att vi verkligen vågar hålla den där,” Brodin said. He praised Hemmyr as a “grym spelare” who works hard. The match featured the series' first major fight when Södertälje's Teemu Väyrynen clashed with Björklöven's Linus Cronholm near the goal. Both received five-minute penalties. “Det är bra med känslor i matcherna,” Väyrynen said, adding, “Vi är inte rädda för någon.” Cronholm noted the size difference but was cautious about penalties. Björklöven is appealing Lundin's two-game suspension for a collision with a linesman, calling the decision “felaktigt.” The series heads to Umeå for game five on Wednesday, where Löven hold match point for a spot in the final and potential SHL promotion.
