Story Summary
Timrå claimed a 3-2 overtime victory over Djurgården after Reid Gardiner struck with 11 seconds remaining in the extra period.
Anton Heikkinen opened the scoring on the power play before Otto Kivenmäki made it 2-0 late in the first period. Djurgården replied through Jacob Josefson on a power play in the second, then Oliver Wahlstrom levelled at 2-2 with another man-advantage goal early in the third.
Neither side scored again in regulation, but Gardiner settled the contest in overtime from Dylan McLaughlin and Marcus Hardegård. The result gave Timrå their first win after opening the season with two scoreless outings.
Djurgården coach Robert Kimby was unhappy with the visitors’ overall display despite recovering from a two-goal deficit. He said the group needed to ask itself how it wanted to look as a team and find its identity.
Key Facts
- Timrå defeated Djurgården 3-2 in overtime, with period scores of 2-0, 0-1, 0-1 and 1-0.
- Reid Gardiner scored the overtime winner with 11 seconds left, assisted by Dylan McLaughlin and Marcus Hardegård.
- Anton Heikkinen gave Timrå a power-play lead before Otto Kivenmäki extended it to 2-0 in the first period.
- Jacob Josefson scored Djurgården’s first goal on the power play in the second period.
- Oliver Wahlstrom made it 2-2 on the power play early in the third period after also scoring in his first Djurgården match.
- Robert Kimby said Djurgården needed to become heavier, more precise and more consistent over time.
IHM Discussion
The game turned on special teams and Timrå’s ability to establish the early advantage. Heikkinen’s power-play opener and Kivenmäki’s late first-period goal put Djurgården in a difficult position, even if the visitors’ own power play brought them back into the contest.
Josefson’s rebound goal reduced the deficit, while Wahlstrom’s precise finish provided a second consecutive scoring contribution from the new signing. That offered Djurgården a route back from 2-0, but Kimby’s assessment made clear that the comeback did not change his view of the performance.
His concerns were specific: getting pucks to the net, delivering the basic competitive habits, being stronger around the puck and making better decisions. Kimby also credited Timrå’s forecheck, while saying Djurgården needed a more effective style sustained over the course of games. The overtime loss delivered a point, but the coach placed greater weight on the standard of play than on the point gained.
Why It Matters
For Timrå, the win ended a three-game wait for a first victory after two opening defeats without a point. The home side built its position through a strong first period and then found the decisive goal late in overtime.
For Djurgården, the result underlined both a positive and a concern. Wahlstrom and Josefson helped overturn a two-goal deficit through power-play scoring, but Kimby did not regard that as sufficient evidence of the team performance he wants. His public focus on identity and foundational habits gives clear context to the areas Djurgården must address.
Mini Q&A
Who scored the overtime winner for Timrå?
Reid Gardiner scored with 11 seconds remaining in overtime, assisted by Dylan McLaughlin and Marcus Hardegård.
How did Oliver Wahlstrom contribute for Djurgården?
Wahlstrom scored Djurgården’s equaliser at 2-2 on the power play early in the third period. It followed his goal in his first match for the club.
What was Robert Kimby’s main criticism after the game?
Kimby said Djurgården needed to be stronger and more precise, improve basic habits and develop a clearer team identity.
Coach Mark Comment
Djurgården’s two power-play goals showed they could punish opportunities, but Kimby’s criticism points to the five-on-five details that shape a team’s baseline. Against an active forecheck, support from the third player around the puck is vital: it can help a side exit pressure cleanly and prevent quick counter-attacks. The coach’s call for heavier, more accurate play is therefore rooted in repeatable puck-battle and transition habits, not simply the final overtime outcome.
IHM Final View
Timrå earned the win through an early two-goal cushion and Gardiner’s late overtime finish. Djurgården salvaged a point through Josefson and Wahlstrom, yet Kimby’s verdict was unequivocal: the recovery did not meet the performance standard he expects. The immediate lesson is not the overtime margin, but the need for a clearer and more consistent collective game.