Frolunda Gothenburg goalie Lars Johansson gave up just one goal in the two Semi-Final games against HC Davos. He's happy with the way his team dealt with the challenge and looks forward to the next in the Champions Hockey League Final.

by Efraim Larsson

GOTHENBURG – While most of the credit for Frolunda Gothenburg's success goes to their vaunted offence, a big reason why they're now in the Champions Hockey League Final is the goaltending of Lars Johansson. In 9 CHL games he has allowed just 1.30 goals per game, and in the two Semi-Final games against HC Davos he stopped 43 of 44 shots, including an unbelievable glove save off a one-timer from Beat Forster in Game 1, preventing a goal which could have given the Swiss club life while the score was still within reach. He spoke after the second game of a 6–1 aggregate win. 

How would you describe your feelings right now?

“It honestly feels really good right now, obviously. I think that we made an okay effort playing with the five-goal advantage today, after all. The first period was a killer and an important step for them to possibly build on with a couple of goals, but we didn't give them anything and instead we scored early to make it even tougher for them and I honestly don't think they got anywhere close to threatening our lead.”

Looking back to the first game in Davos, could you describe your great performance on the road where you took the 5–0 win.

“We gavee a 100 percent performance, I think. No one cut the pre-game instructions but rather stuck to the game plan from A to Z and totally undressed them by playing with resolve and good discipline and not letting them create those dangerous odd-man rushes they usually do. When doing that and dominating the game, good stuff like power-play goals are coming and bounces go in the right direction.”

So your teammates made the last game a little more comfortable for you, even though you had to stretch out quite a lot once there, didn't you? (Referring to the glove save off Foster late in the second period.)

“Well, they have to let our opponents get a few great scoring chances so I have a chance to show off a bit (laughing). No, honestly, it was quite a comfortable game on the road against a skilled team like Davos.”

In other words, you claim that the second game was a bit more difficult for you?

“They (Davos) managed to create longer attacks in our zone today than last week and the longer the game went the more we kinda eased up while they of course went all-in as long as they could. I never got the impression of that they dominated the game, though, but I had to stay a bit more alert today, indeed.”

What do you think when I say that you'll face Karpat, in Oulu?

“Oh, that's a tough one! Karpat is an extremely skilled team with a lots of offensive threats, so it will definitely be a challenge and a tough game for us against the best team in Finland. But as it's just one game in the Final (and not two, like the previous rounds) there could be a minor little detail that determines the game, so we'll have to play with 100 percent focus for 60 minutes – or more – and deliver a performance at the level of the one we played in Davos a week ago.

“As long as we're shutting their offence down and relying on ours to do the work, we have a great shot of winning 'cause we're a darn good hockey team as well. I'm really looking forward to the game!”