Joonas Nättinen, JYP, Liiga
Nättinen missed his shootout attempt in the game against HPK, and he was in the box for KalPa’s equalizer during Saturday’s game. However, he scored the first goal for JYP in Tuesday’s game against Lukko and twice more in the shootout to give JYP the win.
JYP currently resides in 10th place in Liiga, and are aiming to move up in the standing. That will be their only focus, as the team has been knocked out of the Champions Hockey League.
Lukas Vejdemo, Djurgården, SHL
In his 16th game of the season, Lukas Vejdemo hit the scoresheet for the first time. In a good individual effort where one of his strengths — his skating technique — was really on display, he finished with what he himself describes as a typical Vejdemo shot: “No-one really knew how it went in”
In the conversation with EOTP after the game, Vejdemo said “it was more important to get the win and climb out of the relegation zone than to score my first goal of the season”. However, when asked how he sees himself doing, he concludes that he’s “doing a lot better individually, and my confidence is on the way up.”
Djurgården has really turned things around after the international break a few weeks ago. Vejdemo quickly points out “we have opened a gap down to Rögle in the 13th spot [which is the spot that faces potential relegation], now we need to get into the top 10 [for the playoffs]; that’s our next target.”
Vejdemo continues as centre of the third line. The trio has been steady the last few games I have watched, and the Davidsson brothers have matured and gotten used to the SHL tempo, which really has benefitted the team and Vejdemo’s play in the middle. It will be interesting to see how Djurgården continues to play, I had them as an outsider to make the semi-finals this season, and with former players returning from the KHL after New Year’s, things can really look up for Vejdemo and the team.
Arvid Henrikson, AIK U-20, SuperElit
Henrikson assisted on the game winner for AIK when they bested Timrå with 4-2 win on the road. AIK then lost against Modo the day after, but once again (according to the report) Henrikson was stable and solid in defence.
AIK managed to hand over the last place of the standings to Mora (who has two matches in hand) and is 18 points out of a playoff position. I don’t know what will happen when AIK misses the playoffs, but you’d assume some will get a call-up to the main team, and as Henrikson has been on the roster already, he might be in the first batch of junior players to join the club.
Magnus Nygren, Färjestad, SHL
With Färjestad getting Joel Eriksson-Ek back from the NHL to further his development and shedding some players that hadn’t been making a big impression with the team, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster with the roster turnover.
Nygren’s shot hasn’t been affected though, as he unleashed a bomb for his third goal of the year.
