Story Summary
Nidaros host Storhamar at Leangen Arena on Thursday, 1 October, with both sides aiming to respond after defeats in their most recent EliteHockey Ligaen outings.
Nidaros have collected six points from their opening three league matches and sit fourth ahead of the game. Their start included away wins over Stavanger Oilers, 6-3, and Lillehammer, 3-2, before Frisk Asker won 6-2 at Leangen in Nidaros’ first home fixture of the season.
Storhamar arrive sixth with five points from three games. They opened with a 2-1 overtime win over Frisk Asker and followed it by beating Ringerike 8-0 at CC Amfi. Their first EHL defeat came away to Stavanger Oilers, who recovered from falling behind to win 3-2. Storhamar had to play three-on-five twice in the first period of that match.
The teams last met at Leangen Arena on 21 February, when Storhamar recovered from Nidaros taking the lead inside 30 seconds to win 5-2. Nidaros also have a recent home overtime victory over Storhamar, winning 2-1 on 23 October.
Key Facts
- Nidaros play Storhamar at Leangen Arena on Thursday, 1 October, with face-off scheduled for 18:30.
- Nidaros have six points from three EHL matches and are fourth before the fixture; Storhamar are sixth with five points from three games.
- Nidaros opened their league campaign with a 6-3 away win over Stavanger Oilers and a 3-2 away victory over Lillehammer.
- Frisk Asker won 6-2 at Leangen in Nidaros’ first home game of the season.
- Alexander Bjurström has scored four goals for Nidaros this season, while Ludwig Wistén has three.
- Storhamar began with a 2-1 overtime win against Frisk Asker and then beat Ringerike 8-0 at CC Amfi.
- Stavanger Oilers beat Storhamar 3-2 after Storhamar had taken the lead; Storhamar played three-on-five twice in the first period.
- Storhamar won the sides’ latest meeting at Leangen, 5-2, on 21 February after Nidaros scored inside the opening 30 seconds.
- Nidaros beat Storhamar 2-1 after overtime in a previous home meeting on 23 October.
- Five players in Storhamar’s squad were part of the World Championship bronze-medal success in June.
IHM Discussion
This is an early meeting between teams whose opening results have already shown different strengths. Nidaros have taken points through their first two away games and have received early scoring from Bjurström and Wistén, who account for seven goals between them. The 6-2 loss to Frisk Asker, however, gives Thursday’s fixture added importance as Nidaros return to Leangen after their first home result went against them.
Storhamar’s three games have been similarly varied. The 8-0 victory over Ringerike demonstrated the scale of their scoring output on that occasion, while the overtime win against Frisk Asker showed they have already been involved in a tight contest. At Stavanger, the first-period three-on-five situations were costly in a 3-2 defeat after Storhamar had gone ahead.
Recent meetings also provide a clear reminder that the venue alone has not decided this matchup. Storhamar won 5-2 at Leangen in February, despite Nidaros’ rapid opening goal. Nidaros’ 2-1 overtime win in the earlier home meeting offers the other side of that record. Thursday therefore brings another direct comparison between two clubs that have both made productive, if imperfect, starts to the EHL season.
Why It Matters
The fixture gives Nidaros an immediate opportunity to establish a response at home after the Frisk Asker defeat. Their six-point start has them above Storhamar in the early table, but the gap is only one point.
For Storhamar, the game follows a defeat in which penalties created two three-on-five situations in the first period. The match is also their next chance to build on a five-point opening that has included both a one-goal overtime win and an 8-0 victory.
With Nidaros’ leading scorers identified early in the campaign and Storhamar bringing a squad that includes five World Championship bronze medallists from June, the game carries substantial early-season interest at Leangen.
Mini Q&A
When and where is Nidaros v Storhamar?
The game is at Leangen Arena on Thursday, 1 October, with an 18:30 face-off.
How have Nidaros started the EHL season?
Nidaros have six points from three matches, with wins over Stavanger Oilers and Lillehammer before a home defeat to Frisk Asker.
Who has scored for Nidaros early this season?
Alexander Bjurström has four goals and Ludwig Wistén has three.
What happened in the most recent meeting at Leangen?
Storhamar won 5-2 on 21 February after Nidaros scored inside the opening 30 seconds.
IHM Final View
Nidaros and Storhamar enter Thursday’s Leangen meeting from the same immediate position: both lost last time out, but both have made encouraging starts overall. Nidaros have six points and early goals from Bjurström and Wistén; Storhamar have five points and a recent 8-0 win on their record. Their contrasting results in the last two meetings at Leangen underline the competitive history already attached to this fixture.