– We didn’t expect such a start, but the crowd gave us energy and it was so much fun to play. We were eager to play and it was nice that we might get a dividend right away, says Greg Scott, who scored two goals and assisted on one, to SVT Sport.
Already following 43 seconds, Brynäs took the lead. In the first change, Greg Scott stood at the offensive blue line and stroked the puck to Tyler Kelleher, who sped into the zone and found a gap at Dif goaltender Viktor Andrén’s near post for 1-0. The crowd still sang the chants to cheer the team on before the match.
It hadn’t even been five minutes when top scorer Jack Kopacka pulled off a wrist shot that Andrén mightn’t catch and it was 2-0 on the scoreboard.
Djurgården took time out and talked regarding showing pride. Without effect. 2.5 minutes later, Brynäs increased to 3-0 in the power play. The team came with speed and Greg Scott lifted the puck high.
Djurgården’s goalkeeper replaced following seven minutes
Viktor Andrén was replaced in favor of Hugo Hävelid, who got to play his first minutes in the playoffs. Brynäs washed over Djurgården and had 14-0 in shots following 16 minutes before the Stockholm team started eating into the match and got the reduction 3-1 with eleven seconds left in the first period.
Djurgården did not manage to achieve any reduction, but Brynäs might comfortably pull away. In the closing minutes, Kelleher made it 6-2 in an empty net and completed the circle with a hat trick.
– It’s only the first game and a win, but it was nice to get the first win, says Greg Scott.
– It was a tough start and that was the difference. I don’t think we get a real hit on them in our forecheck, says Djurgården’s Marcus Krüger.
The team that wins the hockey allsvenskan final will play in the SHL next season.
