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Photo: OLA WESTERBERG / BILDBYRÅN
How much does the passion of the public, the heels, mean to create a Norrland derby?
The answer is probably everything.
No chants, no agitation, and all we have left is a completely normal game in which one team is much better than the other.
Do you remember the last round this spring, before the SHL decided to re-lock the season?
In fact, it was the last time Luleå and Skellefteå met in a league match and it was a completely surreal experience. The players didn’t even know if they would board in the resounding room.
Now the players have learned that it is actually possible to play hockey without an audience, but create a true derby feel?
No, it’s probably just to forget.
Rather than watch Luleå’s heel take off, face pressure from North Power, and then compete in a not completely clean version of the three-period Chorus, the players tried to join in with the music from the speakers and the silent, empty stands.
Impressive class difference
I don’t know if Luleå benefits directly from the current circumstances, I have a hard time coming up with arguments that this is the case, but what I do know is that Luleå has probably never been as superior at Skellefteå Kraft Arena as during the first ten minutes.
After 07.01, Arttu Ilomäki made Luleå 2-0, a goal which was ruled out after a video review.
Then Luleå led the shots at 10-0 and had still missed two formidable opportunities for free position, where the last pass just wasn’t good enough.
It was an amazing class difference. Skellefteå did not participate in the spins at all. Luleå’s puck’s mobility and tempo were simply too good and the machine seemed just as powerful as at the beginning of this strange season.
The only thing that has bothered Luleå is the corona virus that spread through the squad and made several players sick. For some reason we don’t know how many, but there is talk that he was an important part of the team.
The hierarchy is expected to change during the season.
After that, Luleå had a few matches where it was clear that the players just couldn’t take it.
But now both the lungs and legs are working again and the team is so good that they can go to Skellefteå and completely dominate.
If you look at Luleå this year, it is precisely the offensive game that impresses. The foundations of Thomas “Bulan” Berglund are so deeply ingrained in the team now that they could have spent more time on finesse, creativity, offensive hitting and that’s what we got to see in this derby.
Luleå’s defense is as difficult to force as before, but the offense is much more mobile and faster with many threats.
And in the back now is Jesper Wallstedt, 18, who posted his fifth win in seven starts and had to maintain the first SHL zero of his life.
So far, he’s been a bit overshadowed by the seasoned David Rautio, but something tells me he’ll probably change over the season.
From: Johan Håkansson
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