Rögle BK crushed Växjö Lakers 6-0 in game two of the SHL playoff semifinals, powered by Albin Sundsvik's hat trick. The road win gives Rögle a commanding 2-0 series lead, building on their comeback victory in game one.
Rögle struck first late in the opening period, with Sundsvik scoring on a rebound 48 seconds before the buzzer for a 1-0 lead. He made it 2-0 midway through the second on a deflection. Josh Dickinson extended it to 3-0 four minutes later, upheld after video review. Växjö pulled goaltender Adam Åhman for Ludvig Persson, but Rögle capitalized. Sundsvik completed his hat trick at 4-0 when Mattias Göransson shot the puck along the glass; Persson attempted to stop it behind the net, but it bounced in front for an empty-net goal. Rögle added two more for the rout.
Arvid Holm earned his first playoff shutout, facing just 16 shots. Rögle now boasts six straight playoff wins, including comebacks from 0-3 deficits against Färjestad in the quarterfinals (4-3 series win) and Växjö in game one (5-3). Since the second period of game one, Rögle has scored 11 unanswered goals while shutting out Växjö.
'We have a very good distribution today across the ice. We are strong, stop them, create long attacks with sharp chances, and we are effective,' Sundsvik said to TV4. He noted excellent puck control. Almen Bibic called Rögle 'a team that holds nothing back,' emphasizing none of the goals beat Persson cleanly; his last start was March 10 against Djurgården. Commentator Johan Edlund deemed it 'close to a humiliation' as fans exited early.
Coach Dan Tangnes praised Sundsvik: 'Suverän... he is our powerhouse, can play anywhere,' urging more offensive minutes. Sundsvik has 4 goals and 9 points in 8 playoff games (6 goals in 52 regular-season games).
Ahead of games three and four in Ängelholm, Rögle welcomes back Lucas Ekeståhl Jonsson from injury but misses Mark Friedman and Simon Zether. A pressured Växjö must respond.
