Rögle BK defeated Skellefteå AIK 2-1 in overtime in Game 3 of the 2026 SHL SM finals on Monday, trimming Skellefteå's series lead to 2-1 after earlier losses of 1-4 and 5-1. Captain Anton Bengtsson scored the decider at 6:16 of OT despite a third-period injury, assisted by returning Linus Sandin. Coach Dan Tangnes praised the team's grit amid absences of forwards Dennis Everberg and Daniel Zaar.
Hosting at Catena Arena in Ängelholm before a full house, Rögle dominated shots and possession in the first two periods despite missing injured stars Everberg and Zaar. Linus Sandin impressed upon his return from a long layoff. 'Väldigt imponerande över Linus. Han har varit borta från spel och träning under lång tid,' Tangnes said.
Rögle outshot Skellefteå in the first but went 0-for on power plays—including six minutes of opportunities—drawing fire from TV4's Sanny Lindström: 'Det är för dåligt... inte komma in i zon på hemmaplan.' Skellefteå weathered five first-period penalties, including two for too many men.
Fredrik Olofsson, fresh from the hospital as a new father, opened scoring at 15:58 of the second on a 5-on-3 power play, celebrating with a thumb-suck. Tangnes noted: 'Först och främst är jag glad att familjen mår bra... han svävar lite på endorfiner.' Sandin, also a new father, contributed in OT.
Victor Stjernborg tied it 1-1 with under 10 minutes left in regulation, his fourth goal of the finals. Bengtsson, grimacing from a late hit but refusing to sit ('It takes a lot for me not to play in an SM final – I'd have to be carried out'), returned for extra time.
Goaltender Arvid Holm made a crucial save on Oscar Lindberg, setting up Sandin's assist on Bengtsson's breakaway winner. 'En otrolig känsla. Trycket här inne är fantastiskt,' Bengtsson said, praising the new dads: 'The way they come in and deliver… that's character.' Tangnes added on injuries: 'Är man inte där fysiskt är det ibland bättre att ge den tiden som behövs.'
Game 4 is Thursday in Ängelholm.
