HV71 defeated Rögle BK in a shootout after a 3-3 tie in the SHL restart following the Olympic break, but the match was overshadowed by a post-game dispute between the coaches. Rögle's Dan Tangnes stormed out of the press conference after calling HV71's Anton Blomqvist 'Tönt!' amid arguments over player comments. The game featured a controversial cross-check and a debated penalty shot.
The SHL season resumed after the Olympic hiatus with a tense matchup between Rögle BK and HV71 at Catena Arena in Ängelholm, drawing 6,310 spectators. HV71 took an early 3-1 lead, but Rögle mounted a comeback, tying the score at 3-3 when Karson Kuhlman scored with eight seconds remaining in regulation time. The game proceeded to a shootout, where HV71's Riley Woods netted the decisive goal, securing the two points for the visitors.
Tensions boiled over due to an incident in the third period when HV71's Niklas Hansson was penalized for cross-checking Rögle's Leon Bristedt. This sparked a dispute between the head coaches during the post-game press conference. HV71's Anton Blomqvist commented, “Jag sa det till Niklas Hansson, han måste vara mycket, mycket mer medveten om vem det är han puttar i ryggen (Bristedt). Han måste vara mycket smartare där och se vem det är som han puttar på.” Rögle's Dan Tangnes responded sharply, expressing respect for Blomqvist but adding, “Men jag gillar inte när man börjar prata om spelare i de andra lagen. Du har precis vunnit, håll dig till det – det finns ingen anledning.”
Blomqvist countered, “Ska du i ett känslosamt moment hålla på och prata om vem som slänger sig, förstärker eller är smart och osmart? Kommentera ditt eget lag och dina egna spelare.” Tangnes fired back, “Nej, du kommenterade vår spelare. Du tyckte ju att han förstärkte. Det var det du sa, du lindade bara in det! Stå för det du säger i stället! Prata klarspråk, det klarar du av. Eller?” Frustrated, Tangnes slammed his fist on the table, exited the room, and directed “Tönt!” at Blomqvist, as reported by Helsingborgs-Dagbladet.
Adding to the drama, HV71's Martin Johnsen scored a controversial shootout goal. Johnsen appeared to lose the puck but tucked it in, prompting protests from Rögle. He later said, “Jag kände ingen touch... tappade pucken lite. Lade in den. Skönt.” The win keeps HV71 level with Örebro in the battle to avoid relegation.
