Rogle One Win from SHL Final After 4-1 Win over Vaxjo

Rogle beat Vaxjo in game four to take a SHL semi-final lead

Goals from Nilsson, Kuhlman, Sandin and Goransson gave Rogle a 4-1 game four win over Vaxjo. Gardiner spoiled Holm’s shutout late, but Rogle can clinch Thursday.

Three goals in 10:13 and a Goransson strike put them one win from facing Skelleftea for the Le Mat Trophy...

Rogle are one win from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) final after beating Vaxjo 4-1 to go up 3-1 in their semi-final series.

Vaxjo had snapped Rogle’s six-game winning streak with a 4-2 road win two nights earlier, but they couldn’t repeat it at Catena Arena. Rögle took control of game four in just over 10 minutes.

  

Things unraveled for Vaxjo in the ninth minute when Reid Gardiner was called for slashing. On the powerplay, slick passing between Fredrik Olofsson and Josh Dickinson set up Felix Nilsson to finish from close range.

A minute later it was 2-0. Dickinson won the offensive-zone face-off, Karson Kuhlman picked up the puck and fired a quick shot through traffic that beat Ludvig Persson before he could react.

At 10:13 the home side stretched the lead to three. Linus Sandin adjusted well to a Filip Johansson pass that was slightly behind him, spun away from the defence and fired home a powerful finish.

 

The Lakers got a brief reprieve early in the second period when a scramble in the crease ended with Paul LaDue forcing the puck over the line, but it was called back for goaltender interference.

That was as good as it got for the visitors. Eight minutes into the period they fell 4-0 behind when Leon Bristedt fed Mattias Goransson at the blue line, and his shot went through everyone for his first goal since December 2024.

Tre snabba mål i första perioden signerat Nilsson, Kuhlman och Sandin 🔥#förvårtrbk #roglebk #SHL pic.twitter.com/irdkp6yBr7

— Rögle BK (@roglebk) April 14, 2026

That was the only goal of a middle period filled with penalties on both sides, including for fighting. Anton Bengtsson and Dennis Rasmussen were among those involved, but neither team converted on the powerplay. Not that it mattered for the home side, who stayed in full control.

The third period was far calmer until LaDue went to the box for roughing. Växjö finally got on the board inside the final six minutes when Gardiner finished on the powerplay to spoil Arvid Holm’s shutout.

It ended 4-1, putting Rogle one win away from a Le Mat Trophy final against Skelleftea. They get their first chance to clinch the series on Thursday the 16th, aiming for a third victory at Vida Arena in just over a week.