Rögle secured a 3-1 victory over Djurgården in their SHL opener at the Globe Arena on Tuesday evening. The result leaves both sides level on zero points after one game each, though the standings have little to say this early in the season. By then, the hosts had shown enough composure to see out the final period after taking control mid-way through.
We had backed the home side at 70 per cent confidence before kick-off, and it proved a reasonable call. And here's the thing — Rögle looked more settled from the opening whistle, while Djurgården never quite found their rhythm. The visitors had nothing to do all evening in the first two periods, which told you something about the tone of the game.
Rögle's recent record gives a mixed picture: they beat Taappara and Salzburg in pre-season but lost to Dynamo Pardubice and Plzeň. Djurgården showed more variety, winning four of five but dropping a tight contest against HV71. To be fair, those friendlies don't read like a proper table, but they hint at where each side might stand.
The scoreline doesn't tell the full story. Djurgården pressed hard in the third period but couldn't break through, while Rögle's defence held firm when it mattered most. It's one game, of course, but the pattern felt familiar — these teams have been circling each other for years.
Both clubs now turn their attention to the regular season proper. The gap between them is negligible at this stage, but a win like this gives Rögle something to build on. Djurgården will need to find a way back into it sooner rather than later.
