Vålerenga are four points ahead of Storhamar and Stavanger, who have played three and one less game respectively. Storhamar stood for a great achievement by turning 0-3 to win 4-3 after extra time in the away match against Frisk Asker.
The two games opened and ended Super Friday in the EHL, and both gave value for money, even if the home fans went home disappointed from both arenas.
Daniel Rokseth gave Vålerenga an early lead, but Evan Polei was responsible for a deserved equalizer for the Oilers. Early in the middle period, the home crowd could cheer for a leading goal signed by Alexander Ytterell in the lead, but Vålerenga hit back hard.
Timothy McGauley equalized barely a minute and a half later with a great solo performance, and then the clock ticked just 39 seconds before Villiam Haag made it 2-3 after Polei lost the puck to Mathis Olimb on his way out of his own zone.
Olimb increased the lead in the undercount while Teemu Lepaus was sent off for roughing. Sebastian Johansen won the puck and served Olimb perfectly on the counterattack.
Vålerenga did not give up the lead, and Jørgen Karterud went a long way to puncturing the tension with the 5-2 goal in the 3rd period. Martin Gran ignited hope in the home fans by reducing twice. The last time was 2.13 before the end when the team played with an empty cage.
It got hectic in the final seconds, but Vålerenga held on.
Storhamar feat
The first match in Friday’s round was both spectacular and dramatic. Austin Cangelosi became the match winner for Storhamar 49 seconds into extra time after Andreas Martinsen slalomed between home defenders and served him.
Frisk made a shock start and led 2-0 before two minutes had been played. Joachim Hermansen and Fredrik Bjørndal, scored, and in the middle period Thomas Valkvæ Olsen increased in extra-number games.
Stefan Espeland reduced the score in a game of superiority for the visitors, but halfway through the 3rd period, Frisk still led by two goals.
Then Hampus Gustafsson lost the puck in his own zone, and Cole Schneider reduced it. Not long after, Storhamar received a penalty kick when Cangelosi was hooked by Hermansen, but Håvard Salsten failed to outwit Mitchell Gillam in the Frisk goal.
Salsten took revenge with an assist when Sander Hurrød equalized less than a minute later to make it 3-3.
Storhamar has one loss in the series this autumn and walked away victorious on Friday as well, thanks to Cangelosi’s winning goal in extra time.
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Won neighborhood settlement
Sparta is up on the back of fourth-placed Frisk after winning 5-0 in the neighboring match against Fredrikstad with five different goal scorers.
Lørenskog overtook Narvik in the table by turning to a 5-1 victory away from home in the teams’ meeting, while Lillehammer struggled to a 4-3 victory over Comet away from home and ensured that the Halden team is still last in the table.
Also read: New blow for series leader Vålerenga – lost its second straight