LUE 3:2 SKE | Luleå Hockey - Skellefteå AIK (Champions League)

Champions League

Kärpät – Frölunda

3:2 (after OT)

Luleå – Skellefteå

3:2 (end)

final

Luleå Hockey

3:2 (2:1, 1:0, 0:1)

Skellefteå AIK

Tuesday 20.01.2015, 19:00 • Coop Norrbotten Arena • Champions League

		Welcome. Game starts at 19:00.
Tonight at 19:00 CET: @LuleaHockey vs. @skelleftea_aik! http://t.co/JhzE9dOxOx pic.twitter.com/mBYXRCJnJZ — Champs Hockey League (@championshockey) January 20, 2015
@championshockey @LuleaHockey good luck from Nottingham and the rest of the @PanthersIHC #PanthersNation — Oll (@OliverBoot) January 20, 2015
		Hello and welcome to this Champions Hockey League semi final second leg between Lulea Hockey and Skelleftea AIK. The prize couldn't get much bigger for the winner today, as Sweden are already guaranteed to have at least one team in February's grand final.
		The first leg in Skelleftea has really left this semi final right in the balance, as Lulea came from behind to grab a last gasp 2:2 draw. Away goals do not count however in Champions Hockey League play, so if any sort of draw will be played today, we will have overtime. Lulea weren't favourites coming into this matchup at all, but they will be looking to make use of home advantage against the reigning Swedish champions.
		Lulea have had a very impressive campaign in the Champions Hockey League this season, finishing second in Group K before knocking out Red Bull Salzburg 10:9 and Lukko Rauma 7:3 in the playoff rounds. Daniel Zaar is their CRAMO Top Scorer with 13 points, and first choice goaltender Joel Lassinantti has a save percentage of 94.26%.
		A lot was expected from Skelleftea, as they have won the strong Swedish championship for two years straight, and they have done a decent job getting to this stage. They won Group J with 15 points, and then saw off the challenge of JYP Jyvaskyla 8:7 and Linkoping 6:5. Their CRAMO Top Scorer is Par Lindholm with 12 points to his name, and regular goalkeeper Markus Svensson has a solid 93.65% save percentage.
Which of the two northernmost teams in Sweden reach the finals? Well anyway Luleå's crowd will be magic tonight. #CHL #semifinal #Luleå — Peder Wiklund (@donpedroruns) January 20, 2015
Lugnet före stormen. #luleå #cooparena #chl #twittpuck pic.twitter.com/vzHycJ8mEf — Marie Lehmann (@svtlehmann) January 20, 2015
		Starting lineups: Luleå Hockey: Lassinantti (Larsson) – Savilahti-Nagander, Nakyva, Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Kukan, Jaros, Hogbom – Sylvegard, Abbott Cam, Abbott Chris – Zaar, Granstrom, Petrell – Wallmark, Cehlarik, Bryggman – Mannberg, Fogstrom, Fabricius – Forsberg. Skellefteå AIK: Hanses (Svensson) – Heed, Sevc, Bustrom, Aho, Andersson, Lindholm, Pettersson M., Lundberg – Forssell, Sorensen, Lundberg – Kabanov, Zackrisson, Pettersson A. – Calof, Sundqvist, Schremp – Widing, Pettersson P., Norman. Referees: Piechaczek (GER), Rantala (FIN) – Yletyinen, Käck (both SWE).
Nu kör vi! #chl #luleå #saik #semifinal #twittpuck pic.twitter.com/xTclaJo8vP — Marie Lehmann (@svtlehmann) January 20, 2015
		The teams are now out on to the ice, and in just a few moments' time we will be getting underway!
	00:01	Game started.
	00:42	Here we go in this Champions Hockey League semi final second leg! It really is anyone's game, with the score 2:2 after the first fixture in Skelleftea!
	01:16	Just over one minute in and we already have our first penalty of the day! Lulea's Jonathan Granstrom has been punished for interference, and in doing so he has given Skelleftea a great opportunity in which to take the advantage back!
Time for second semifinal. Go Skellefteå! So ready for double gold medals. Dags för semifinal 2!!! Go @skelleftea_aik!!! Är såå redo för dubbla guld!!! ???????????? #SkeAIK #motnästaguld — Marie Andersson (@MarieAndersso17) January 20, 2015
	03:11	Aho! Seconds after Martin Lundberg looked to have smacked the left hand post from the high slot Sebastian Aho takes aim, and he forces the home goaltender into a solid stop crouched down!
	03:16	Lulea have survived that scare, and as forward Cam Abbott scraps around for a juicy rebound from close range they come back to full strength.
	04:15	Kabanov! Kirill Kabanov is sent pacing down one on one, and backhands into the right hand hand corner! But no, the whistle had already been called on the play, and the Skelleftea man has been sent to the penalty box for ten minutes as a result of unsportsmanlike behaviour!
	05:51	Goal for Luleå! There is the opening goal of the game and it's gone to Lulea! A flowing move sees the puck roll to KARL FABRICIUS' stick, and from the right faceoff circle he rifles it into the near corner! Assisted by: Johan Forsberg and Niklas Fogstrom. 1-0 and aggregate is 3-2.
Karl FABRICIUS - 1:0
	06:01	Skelleftea have been gifted a very well needed powerplay though, as Chris Abbott of Lulea has been penalised for boarding. It's been a fast and furious start here!
He says the Steelmen will show who is best. Skellefteå may as well take the bus home already. Nu är det dags för stålmännen att visa vart skåpet ska stå! Skellefteå kan ju lika gärna ta bussen hem redan nu :) #chl #luleåhockey — Johannes Esberg (@JohannesEsberg) January 20, 2015
	07:43	Goal for Skellefteå! What a response from the visitors, and all of a sudden it's back in the balance! TIM HEED winds up at the blue line, and he crashes his huge slapper in blocker side! Assisted by: Patrik Zackrisson. Powerplay goal, 1-1.
Tim HEED - 1:1
	10:25	That goal has silenced the home crowd, and Lulea have to pick themselves up! Remember that away goals don't count, so if no more goals were scored, it would be overtime here!
	11:39	Sorensen! Skelleftea are creating all the chances at the moment! It's a three on one, Nick Sorensen is fed between the circles, and he's shut down excellently by Joel Lassinantti!
	13:42	Both teams are playing mainly on the counterattack with neutral ice seeing very little play indeed, the home fans are certainly enjoying what they're seeing inside the Coop Norrbotten Arena!
	14:06	Goal for Luleå! It wasn't a tied game for long! Lulea hold the puck inside the attacking zone well, send it back to the point, and DANIEL ZAAR crashes it in! Assisted by: Jonathan Granstrom and Per Savilahti-Nagander. 2-1.
Daniel ZAAR - 2:1
	15:14	Immediately after that marker Skelleftea have got set up deep inside the opposite end, they sense that both defences aren't particularly on their game today!
	15:32	And they've drawn another penalty from Lulea! Chris Abbott has been punished for tripping, much to the anger of the home fans!
.@LuleaHockey take the lead back, @cramotopscorer of the team Daniel Zaar makes it 2–1 in the 15th minute against @skelleftea_aik. #CHL — Champs Hockey League (@championshockey) January 20, 2015
	17:23	Incredibly Lulea have taken another two minute minor, they're getting into a bit of trouble now! Johan Forsberg has been found guilty of tripping, as they're making life hard for themselves!
	19:41	The hosts have killed both of those minors expertly though as they looked solid at the back, and the end of a thrilling opening period is now approaching us!
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Lulea came out of the blocks harder, although after opening up the scoring they were pegged back by Tim Heed's blast. Daniel Zaar has given them back the lead though, and it is shaping up to be a fantastic semi final!
		Statistics after the first period: Shots on target: 6-10 Saves made by the goalkeeper: 9-4 Penalty minutes: 8-10
First period over, @LuleaHockey vs @skelleftea_aik 2–1 (4–3 on aggregate). #CHL — Champs Hockey League (@championshockey) January 20, 2015
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:13	The second stanza is go! Lulea, despite being under a considerable amount of pressure during the first, are up by one, and will hope to take less penalties in this period!
The puck has dropped & the 2nd period is underway. #Lulea 2-1 #SkellefteaAIK. (4-3 on aggregate) #CHL semi-final 2nd leg. #LetsGoLulea — Martyn. 20-8-5 (@panthermarty) January 20, 2015
	21:38	Luela drift offside. Their fans are in fine voice today, and we have what looks like some Russian Skelleftea supporters inside the ground, with the Russian word for battle being shown on a yellow and black banner!
	23:33	No shots on goal have been seen at all yet, as Lulea are happy to let Skelleftea have possession, but as soon as they move out of their zone Lulea players are closing them down.
	24:20	The hosts dump the puck into the crease from pinned up against the right hand boards, and Erik Hanses covers as to not take any risks. And we almost have a fight on our hands, as tempers rise with the net being knocked off its moorings!
Did Luleå forget their fans in the pub? I only hear Skellefteå fans. Glömde Luleå klacken på puben elr nått? Hör bara Skellefteå publik. #CHL #skeaik — Amin Lindgren (@AminLindgren) January 20, 2015
	25:31	A swift Skelleftea counterattack finishes with Martin Lundberg wristing with power at close range, and Joel Lassinantti makes a sharp right pad save to keep his team ahead! He had to be alert there!
	29:53	It seems that both teams are simply cancelling each other out at the moment, no one is ready to commit to the attack, while at the same time not liking to spend too much time in their own zone either.
	30:23	Lassinantti! That was almost an embarrassing mistake! Joel Lassinantti fails to hold on to a harmless looking thrown puck into his crease, and Skelleftea's Nick Sorensen is very close to punishing him!
	31:10	The referee has his arm up for a penalty here and it's against the hosts again, as Lars Bryggman has been called for tripping.
	32:22	CRAMO Top Scorer Oskar Sundqvist swings to the right faceoff circle, opts to thrash the puck across the face of goal, and a teammate just can't get on to the end of his dangerous feed.
	33:33	Lulea's fans are up in arms again, as another foul has been committed by their team! Skelleftea's Erik Andersson was completely taken out, and as he receives treatment Cam Abbott has been ordered to sit in the penalty box!
	34:08	Sorensen! Nick Sorensen, who has been tough for Lulea to handle all game long, sprints down the right wing, and slams his wrister into the netminder's chest!
	34:13	Tim Heed tees up that man Nick Sorensen for another effort, but this time it isn't as dangerous as Joel Lassinantti gets everything behind his slapped attempt.
	35:33	That was a very long couple of minutes for Lulea, and having killed off a mass of pressure, they have their full quota of players back on the ice.
	36:45	Skelleftea are now the ones going to have to do some defending, and it's a cheap one as they have been caught for having too many men on the ice. Defenceman Tim Heed will take this one for his team.
	38:34	Goal for Luleå! That didn't look like coming at all, and what a vital marker that could turn out to be! JAN SANDSTROM lets a devilish wrister go from the left faceoff circle, and he strikes gold! Assisted by: Marcus Fageruud and Peter Cehlarik. Powerplay goal, 3-1 and aggregate is 5-3.
	39:41	The visitors are now in all sorts of trouble, and with the second period drawing to a close Skelleftea's manager is going to have to come up with some magic words during the break!
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		It was Skelleftea who made all the running during that period, but after missing some promising openings that Lulea third goal has put them into a very deep hole! The hosts can smell the final already!
		Statistics after 40 minutes of play: Shots on target: 11-23 Saves made by the goalkeeper: 22-8 Penalty minutes: 12-12
2nd period over, @LuleaHockey vs @skelleftea_aik 3–1 (5–3 agg.). Visitors now have to score minimum of two goals in the last period. #CHL — Champs Hockey League (@championshockey) January 20, 2015
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	41:38	The third period has begun! With the aggregate score at 5:3 in Lulea's favour they are in the box seat to qualify for the Champions Hockey League final, but you can bet Skelleftea will keep fighting!
Let's go Luleå. Crush Skellefteå. Kom igen Luleå krossa saik — Jeppe Dahlin (@JdsskDahlin) January 20, 2015
	43:31	Skelleftea get set up inside the attacking zone, and the eventual wristed shot from the point is deflected up and out of play. They've had the better of the game play, while being fatally wasteful with their chances!
	45:03	Erik Hanses catches a dump into his crease from well outside the zone, and with no other options on he freezes. He will be very disappointed with his performance so far, having let in three goals on only twelve shots!
	45:54	A penalty has been called again and it's gone rather untimely against Skelleftea, as Rob Schremp has been handed a two minute minor for hooking.
Micheal, Sebastian and Martin dressed for CHL – VICTORY #CHL pic.twitter.com/uKyoiMQsVc — LuleåFans (@LuleaFans) January 20, 2015
	47:54	There were a few hairy moments on their slot during that time, however having survived Skelleftea can regroup five on five.
	49:59	Lulea almost finished it there, as a tip in smacks onto the crossbar with Erik Hanses beaten all ends up! The hosts are looking more and more confident as time rolls on!
	51:38	Despite their ever grave situation Skelleftea have been gifted a huge powerplay, with Per Savilahti-Nagander being handed a two minute minor for tripping.
	53:38	Skelleftea couldn't create anything during that time however, and their opponents are back to full strength. Time really is running down now, and the situation doesn't look like changing!
	55:35	Just to put things in perspective, Skelleftea haven't had one single shot on target in this period as yet. They do appear to have no strength left!
	57:16	For what most probably will be the final penalty of this semi final, Skelleftea's Daniel Widing has practically made the task impossible for his team. Lulea's faithful support are already gearing themselves up for the grand final, which will be against fellow Swedish outfit Frolunda!
Well deserved victory Luleå. #bestinEurope Välförtjänt seger Luleå. #bästiEuropa — Adam Bitén (@Padwicks) January 20, 2015
	58:18	The hosts make a one on one opportunity for themselves, but glove side Erik Hanses gets in the way to leave his team with some sort of hope!
	58:51	Goal for Skellefteå! Well, would you believe that! They looked to be dead and buried, but Skelleftea have a lifeline here! The loose puck rolls to MARTIM LUNDBERG to the left of the slot, and he snipes it home! Assisted by: Erik Forssell and Kirill Kabanov. Shorthanded goal, 3-2.
	58:51	Skelleftea have duly taken a timeout, and Erik Hanses has been pulled for the extra skater! We do have a grandstand finish here after all!
	59:14	Oh dear, but as soon as that happened their forward Erik Forssell has foolishly chucked the puck out of play for a delay of game call! The Lulea fans are loving that!
	59:41	The visitors have still replaced their goalkeeper for the extra skater though, however with only a few seconds remaining they don't have enough time to peg their opponents! It will be Lulea heading into the final!
	60:00	Game over.
.@LuleaHockey is the second team to advance to the #CHL final! pic.twitter.com/lzV1Bve2qr — Champs Hockey League (@championshockey) January 20, 2015
		There is the final buzzer, and Lulea Hockey have made the Champions Hockey League final with a 5:4 overall aggregate triumph over Skelleftea AIK! They deserved the win today, as they cleverly saw the game out. Karl Fabricius, Daniel Zaar and Jan Sandstrom stuck for the victors, with Tim Heed and Martin Lundberg replying for Skelleftea. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you in February for the Champions Hockey League grand final!
FIIIINNNAAAAALLLLL!!!! Krigarseger @LuleaHockey mot Skellefteå #CHL pic.twitter.com/BFDLGNywcx — Peter Lund (@PeterLund82) January 20, 2015
		Jan Sandström, (Luleå): "Really great! It's always nice to beat Skellefteå. Even nicer in this kind of game." "We don't play at our best. Maybe a little too defensive. But maybe that's how you have to play to beat Skellefteå." "We have played good box-play all season. Today we got a little extra practise. We take some stupid penalties. I think we kill the penalties in a good way." "Really great atmosphere here today. A long time since we last had this great atmosphere. The fans always sing, no matter who we play. But today it was a little extra, I think."
		Thanks for following this live report. I hope it has been to your pleasure. Keep in touch and get the latest news, interviews and statistics on the official website, www.championshockeyleague.net. (22:15:13)

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Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 6. Fabricius (Forsberg, Fogstrom), 15. Zaar (Granstrom, Savilahti-Nagander), 39. Sandstrom (Fageruud, Cehlarik) – 8. Heed (Zackrisson), 59. Lundberg (Forssell, Kabanov)

Luleå Hockey: Lassinantti (Larsson) – Savilahti-Nagander, Nakyva, Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Kukan, Jaros, Hogbom – Sylvegard, Abbott Cam, Abbott Chris – Zaar, Granstrom, Petrell – Wallmark, Cehlarik, Bryggman – Mannberg, Fogstrom, Fabricius – Forsberg.

Skellefteå AIK: Hanses (Svensson) – Heed, Sevc, Bustrom, Aho, Andersson, Lindholm, Pettersson M., Lundberg – Forssell, Sorensen, Lundberg – Kabanov, Zackrisson, Pettersson A. – Calof, Sundqvist, Schremp – Widing, Pettersson P., Norman.

Referees: Piechaczek (GER), Rantala (FIN) – Yletyinen, Käck (both SWE)

1st game: Skellefteå - Luleå 2:2

1st period
	01:16
	04:15
	05:51
	06:01
	07:43
	14:06
	15:32
	17:23
1st intermission
2nd period
	31:10
	33:33
	36:45
	38:34
2nd intermission
3rd period
	45:54
	51:38
	58:51
	59:14
Final