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Skin of Teeth Syndrome
If teeth had skin it could not be tighter than the end of the 2007 Kvalserien. Even with one minute to go things were unclear as to what was going to happen. When that minute expired it was heartbreak for Malmö. A monumental last ten minutes which almost rescued the impossible was just not long enough. The despair and disappointment on both the players and fans faces was there for all to see. For the leadership within the organization that despondency must soon turn to a focus on putting a plan together to get the Redhawks back into the Elitserien in time for the big move to their new home.
Going into the last game Malmö knew that they needed other results to go there way, they also knew they had to win themselves against Leksand. Jyri Marttinen got the visitors off to a great start scoring after 6.20. Just over two minutes later the unease felt before the game had turned to serious anxiety, Leksand had not only equalized but had gone ahead after 8.47. For ten long minutes Malmö huffed and puffed but were not convincing. Despite Malmö not impressing Marttinen again made his presence felt tying things up after 19.26 with a great shot from the blue line. That was as close as it was going to be for the remainder of the game. After period two Malmö found themselves behind again, Jens Bergenström who was a pin in Malmö’s side all game gave them the lead on 33.14
And then came the third, a period that Malmö fans will not forget in a long time. Leksand went mad for three crazy minutes, at the same time as Malmö seemed to stop defending. Between the forty fifth and the forty eighth minute Leksand found themselves 6-2 to the good. Depression was setting in and it was no help that the word coming from Umeå was that Södertälje were losing. Malmö’s Andreas Thuresson got one back on 48.43, too little too late. On fifty minutes Marcus Paulssons’ hard work was rewarded when he made it 6-4, signs of life finally. Mikael Wahlberg, Malmö’s player of the year, gave the whole Kvalserien pause for thought when he made it 6 to 5 on 57:21. For two and a half minutes Malmö pounded and battered the Leksand goal, even hitting it once but all to no avail. The late revival only served to make the disappointment all the more bitter and the road to the Allsvenskan no less painful.
For fans and supporters all the speculation starts now, who will leave? Who will stay? What direction will the club take? The Redhawks do have a number of things in their favour. Two years ago they found themselves in the same position; valuable lessons from that season can be used to great affect again next season. The quality of players coming through the junior ranks of the club and the younger players in the A team can only add to the optimism that the future of the club is bright
It is not a goodbye from the Redhawks to the Elitserien, it’s “farewell and we‘ll be back in your company again in a years time, see you then!!”
John Noonan
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