Vaxjo vs Rögle

Pre-season friendlies rarely hinge on a single moment, but the overtime period provided the decisive phase. Rögle, having led the scoring through regulation, found the winner in the extra frame to deny Växjö a second pre-season victory. The hosts had beaten IF Malmö Redhawks 2-1 on 14 August in their only other warm-up fixture, with Dennis Rasmussen and new signing Matias Mäntykivi on the scoresheet.

Without official goal-scorer data published at the time of writing, the headline performer was the Rögle player who netted the overtime winner — the kind of moment that builds confidence heading into the final stretch of pre-season. For Växjö, the ability to force extra time against an SHL rival in their first home outing of the summer suggests encouraging signs for head coach Jörgen Jönsson's squad.

Rögle's depth was always likely to be tested given this was their first game action of the pre-season. The fact they found a way to win on the road, in a building where they clinched their playoff semifinal series in April, speaks to the resilience within Dan Tangnes' group.

The Betmana data confirms a 2-3 scoreline after overtime — a result that aligns with the historically tight nature of this fixture. Of the 50 previous meetings between these sides, 90% saw both teams score and 96% went over 2.5 total goals, suggesting that goals were always likely. The overtime finish also fits: this rivalry has produced its share of extended games, including last season's SHL contests that twice went beyond regulation.

Both teams used the fixture to distribute ice time and test combinations, as is standard for pre-season openers. The result itself carries limited competitive weight but offers a data point on fitness levels and tactical shape ahead of the 2026/27 SHL season.

Rögle open their pre-season programme with a win, building on a 2025/26 campaign that saw them reach the SHL finals (losing 4-1 to Skellefteå). They face HV71 in Halmstad on 27 August before the SHL season begins in September.

For Växjö, this was their second pre-season game and their first at home. They now have further warm-up fixtures scheduled before their SHL opener on 22 September. The Lakers will take positives from competing to overtime against strong opposition, particularly after losing just 1-2 in their first pre-season outing against Malmö last week.

The two sides will meet again in pre-season on 22 August, when Växjö travel to Rögle's home barn for the reverse fixture.

A textbook pre-season opener: competitive, tight, and settled by a moment of quality in overtime. Rögle's ability to win on the road in their first game action is a small but meaningful marker. For Växjö, matching an SHL finalist over 60+ minutes in their first home outing provides a useful benchmark for where the squad stands. The return fixture on 22 August will tell us more.