On March 24, recent Capitals draft pick Axel Jonsson-Fjallby’s team, Djurgården, played Game 4 of its Swedish Hockey League playoff series against Linköping in Linköping. Two days earlier (March 22), Jonsson-Fjallby scored the game-winning goal against Linköping in Game 3 in a 4-3 victory to take a 2-1 series lead.
The game did not start off well for Djurgården as Mathis Olimb of Linköping was awarded a penalty shot. Fortunately for Djurgården, the goalie saved it. Just 30 seconds later, Jonathan Davidsson retrieved the puck, passed to his brother, Marcus, who then passed it to Jonsson-Fjallby who put it passed the goaltender to stake Djurgården to a 1-0 lead.
*Video not in English*
Linköping came out playing hard during the second period but Linus Hultström added a power play goal for Djurgården as they now led 2-0. Kristian Näkyvä of Linköping broke the shutout, making the deficit 2-1. Linus Hultström added another power play goal, on a 5-on-3, to increase the lead back to two goals and an overall score of 3-1.
Djurgården controlled most of the play for the third period but Linköping started to press near the end and pulled their goalie. Former Capitals and AHL affiliate Hershey Bears forward, Andrew Gordon, drew Linkoping within one with a goal of his own, making the game interesting at 3-2. Things became even more dramatic when a Djurgården player took a penalty. With the goalie pulled, it was now a 6-on-4 situation. Jonsson-Fjallby twisted a puck in the middle and it sailed into the empty net for his second goal of the game and a much-needed insurance goal for his team. The score was now 4-2, which proved to be the final score.
Photos: Aftonbladet
Djurgården now has a commanding 3-1 lead in their playoff series against Linköping. They will return home to play Game 5 on March 26.
With his two goals in Game 4, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby now has four goals in this playoff series and leads the league in playoff goals. He also has one assist for five points overall.
Game Story from Team Site
Interview with Jonsson-Fjallby from Team Site
Good piece, Diane. Imagining a speed line of Vrana-Gersich-Fjallby is exciting.
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Lots of speed (I’m guessing, in rough order): Vrana, Kuznetsov, Jonson-Fallby, Burakovsky, Gersich, Stephenson. We don’t seem to have enough room for all of these guys – but let’s imagine
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Wilson
Vrana – Kuznetsov – Burakovsky
Gersich – Eller – Oshie
Jonson-Falby – Stephenson – ?
The slight problem there is that with those guys all up in the NHL, we have zero forward talent in the pipeline. I don’t think Jonsson-Falby starts in the bigs next year unless he absolutely kills it in training camp (which he might). Gersich, it seems, will get a long look – they love him and I do trust their judgement on this one. So big kudos to Mahoney and boys for the work they’ve done to find these gems and please have a good draft this year because we are getting thin! The dilemma we have now is that we have players like Burakovsky, Vrana, and Stephenson who seem to have all of the tools to be very good pros but who find themselves on a team with five fixtures in the top forward spots – Ovechkin, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Wilson, and Oshie. We can’t trade either and get good value, but without opportunity and top minutes, how can they improve? Vrana at times seems able to take over the game in the offensive zone much like Patrick Kane. Burakovsky, when he’s got his confidence, has shown he can make an impact. Stephenson has got speed and lots of smarts. I think any team that had any of those three in the top 6 would be glad to have them.
Definitely agree, the forwards in the Prospect pool is getting very slim.
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