SHL Playoffs: Frolunda dumped out as Lulea title defence reaches semi-finals

[p]Goals either side of the 40-minute mark were enough for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/frolunda/pAG4OqEE/"]Frolunda[/a] to keep the series, and their season, alive with a 2-1 win in game five, as they looked to thwart the same side they beat in the Champions Hockey League final a few weeks ago.[/p][p]It looked like another late show would be needed after a goalless opening period, in which the visitors failed to make use of a powerplay after high-sticking from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/laaksonen-oskari/EyuZPdSS/"]Oskari Laaksonen[/a]. [/p][p]The match continued in the same vein in period two, as Laaksonen was again sent to the box, one of two penalties conceded each by the two sides, yet when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brome-mathias/CYL8qow3/"]Mathias Brome[/a] found the net for the hosts, not only was it not on a powerplay, it was ruled out for interference on the goaltender.[/p][p]However, after a slashing call against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/innala-jere/fse4jvhm/"]Jere Innala[/a] in the dying seconds of the second period, [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lulea/0QhOwF1e/"]Lulea[/a] took full advantage early in the third, as Laaksonen made amends with a pass across to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/levtchi-anton/dvVa6x9C/"]Anton Levtchi[/a] on the right, who powered in a first-time strike from distance.[/b][/p][embed guid="6936f81c-6037-4f1e-8a86-6651597391f8" url="https://x.com/SHLse/status/2039778813295354300" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Gothenburg side's chances of levelling were hampered by further penalties against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hasa-filip/lf1fmHoe/"]Filip Hasa[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/egli-dominik/K6ovgncl/"]Dominik Egli[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hogberg-linus/2Pu9knWI/"]Linus Hogberg[/a] as the period wore on, [b]as Lulea held out for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/frolunda-pAG4OqEE/lulea-0QhOwF1e/?mid=MNJNmK2t"]1-0[/a] victory, in which Matteus Ward saved all 26 shots that came his way.[/b][/p][p]Having been well clear at the top of the table for so long, Frolunda end their campaign with just seven wins in their last 24 games in all competitions, one of which was the CHL final against Lulea.[/p][p]Lulea join [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/skelleftea/8jdWygW7/"]Skelleftea[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vaxjo/hzXCSnCE/"]Vaxjo[/a] in the semi-finals, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/farjestad/4b1TBPb8/"]Farjestad[/a] will complete the line-up on Friday 3rd unless Rogle can beat them again and force a game seven decider.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/sweden/shl/"]Follow the SHL playoffs on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]