Nidaros secured a 3-2 victory over Storhamar in the Liga Fjörkraft on Thursday evening. The result puts both sides level on the table after two matches each, though the home side's timing gives them the edge. We had backed the visitors with 70% confidence, but the match played out differently.
By then it was clear this wouldn't be a straightforward affair. Storhamar arrived with momentum from their 8-0 win over Ringerik, while Nidaros were still shaking off a heavy 2-6 defeat to Frisk Asker. To be fair, the away side had also shown vulnerability, losing 2-3 to Stavanger Oilers on their outing before that.
And here's the thing about these early-season fixtures — form means less than you'd think. Nidaros had won three of their last four before this game, including a 3-2 triumph over Lillehammer. Storhamar's recent run was mixed, with losses to Stavanger Oilers and Frölunda breaking up their wins.
The two teams enter this phase of the season with identical records: two games, two victories, zero points separating them on the table. That's not a gap, really — it's a coincidence of schedule. The standings won't tell you much until the third round kicks off.
What this result does is keep Nidaros in the hunt for home advantage in the early stages. Storhamar picked up their second win of the campaign, but the away trip ended without the clean sweep we might have expected. The visitors were reduced to chasing the game in the final period, though without period-by-period data we can only say the home side held firm.
