Prospect update: Ciccolini’s hot start and Lundkvist’s big weekend
By Steve Paulus
Nils Lundkvist (D) – 2018 1st round – # 28
Nile Lundkvist and Luleå played twice this weekend, winning both games. Lundvist is heating up with five points in his last three games and four points over the weekend.
On Saturday, Lundkvist opened the scoring 15:30 into the first period with his third goal of the season as Luleå beat Linköping on the road 3-2.
Lundkvist (#27) joined the rush and snapped a wrister past the Linköping netminder.
He also assisted on Karl Fabricius’ game winning goal late in the second period. Lundkvist played 19:49 and had five shot attempts with two on goal. He finished with a plus/minus rating of +2.
Sunday, they won their second straight road game beating Färjestad. Lundkvist was the star of the game with two power play goals and seven shots on goal. He opened the scoring midway through the first period on a slapshot from the left point that snuck through.
He then added his second power play goal in the third period. Watch Lundkvist’s (#27) wrist shot from the point.
He now has five goals and nine points in 15 games with three goals on the power play. He is averaging about three shots on goal per game. With his three goal weekend, Lundkvist now is tied for the lead in goal scoring by defensemen. He leads all defensemen in the SHL with three power play goals.
Luleå is making a run, moving into fourth place in the SHL.
Karl Henriksson (C) – 2019 2nd round – #58
Karl Henriksson was scoreless in Frölunda’s 7-1 loss at Brynäs. He played almost 14 minutes and had one shot on goal. Henriksson has four assists in 16 games so far this season. Frölunda is still in first place in the SHL.
Other players in Sweden
Center Adam Edstrom of Rögle hasn’t played in over a week as his team has been quarantined after a positive COVID-19 test result. He has one goal and two assists in 14 games. The big (6’6″) forward was picked in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.
Calle Själin was also idle this weekend as Leksand’s match against Rögle was postponed. He has one goal and two assists in 16 games. The 21 year old defenseman was drafted in the fifith round of the 2017 Entry Draft.
Also idled by the pandemic are Allsvenskan players Jakob Ragnarsson with Timra and goalie Olof Lindbom with Mora. Lindbom has a 5-2-1 record with a 2.98 Goals Against Average and .902 Save Percentage. Ragnarsson is a defenseman who is playing regularly for the league’s best team. He has one assist in 14 games.
Finally, two junior players drafted in October, goalie Hugo Ollas and forward Oliver Tärnström have both been sidelined with all junior hockey in Sweden on hiatus until January 1. In an interview with Blueshirt Blogs, Tärnström revealed that he has been loaned to the Hanviken hockey club in the Hockeyettan league, the third tier of Swedish pro hockey. He can also play with the AIK team in the Allsvenskan League.