Frölunda Gothenberg is tied for second place in Group C with 3 points. The main catalyst of the team's offence is Andreas Johnson, who has figured in on 9 of the team's 10 goals with 2 goals and 7 assists. As his nearest teammate has 5 points, he might be wearing the Top Scorer jersey and helmet for a while.
by Efraim Larsson
In their first two Champions Hockey League games, which were both played away from home, Frölunda HC lost 4-3 to Genève-Servette and then beat Briançon Diables Rouges 7-1. With three points, they are tied for second place in Group C along with Villach SV, three points behind Genève.
With points on nine of his team's 10 goals so far, 20-year-old Andreas Johnson is the CHL's top scorer and the main catalyst for his team's offence. While the team practiced at Frölundaborg, the club's training facility, he spoke about how the team is playing and about being the tournament's top scorer.
Andreas, Frölunda lost its first CHL game on the road against Genève-Servette 4-3. What did you think of that game?
"I think we were the better team, definitely, and we followed our game plan very good until they got the 1-0 goal. At that time it felt like we got a little panic and our energy and enthusiasm like died a bit. If we would have scored the first goal it would have been a totally different game, I think, because when they scored again to make it 2-0 we got even more stressed and even let them score 3-0, when we had the 5-on-3 chance."
In the third period you came out big when you cut the deficit to 3-1 just 30 seconds into the period and got a second straight goal to make it 3-2 a couple of minutes later. You assisted on both goals. What happened suddenly?
"Roger (Rönnberg, the head coach) pushed us to think positive, that we didn't have anything to lose in the third period and we got a lot of extra energy when the goals started to go in. Then all of a sudden, they unfortunately got that fourth goal from behind the net off a player and we sort of lost it again. We couldn't make it closer than 4-3 and we lost, which is a shame since I think we had a lot of scoring chances earlier in the game which we didn't capitalise on. It's just to take it, that's the truth. I mean, you'll always sometimes in a while play a game having a hard time scoring and not succeed. But of course it sucked that it was in a CHL game since it's an important tournament for us."
But you took a great revenge in the game against Briançon, in which you scored two goals and four assists. What happened there?
"Haha, I don't really know to be honest. It felt like everything I did turned into something good, so what can I say? It happens once in a lifetime, so it was nice to bounce back after the loss against Genève in that way."
So nine points in two games makes you the top scorer of the tournament right now. You're four points ahead of your nearest teammate, which means you could be keeping that Top Scorer jersey for a while.
"Actually I haven't really thought of it that much. Now when I'm wearing it, it doesn't affect me that much. But when Mathis (Olimb) had it in the first game it felt pretty weird and unusual to see a teammate skate around with a different jersey and helmet than me but being on my team. When I see the opponent's Top Scorer I think like 'He is dangerous and could probably create something from this'."
Frölunda played two exhibition games this weekend against Vålerenga Oslo and HC Lugano. Frölunda beat Vålerenga 5-1 but Johnson didn't get any points. After the second period he heard comments like: "Give him the Top Scorer jersey. That'll wake him up!" and "Where's your Top Scorer helmet now?" He then scored two goals in a 3-1 win over Lugano.
This weekend it's time for Game Days 3 and 4 in the CHL, which means two new games for Frölunda - both on their home ice at Scandinavium. The first game will be a rematch against Genéve-Servette on Thursday and on Sunday Frölunda will play Villach SV for the first time in the tournament. According to Johnson, Frölunda followed the gameplan really well in the first two games, which is the biggest point they'll be carrying into the two CHL games.
"We skate a lot and our game plan forces us to fore check and push out the opponents out from the center ice a lot, which I think we've done good so far. We have also had the most puck possession in both games and have had longer attacks more often, which is a good advantage and an opportunity to take control of the game. We're a stronger and better team than any in our group and we should be able to capitalise because of that."