Club Friendly· Season 2026
Malmö Redhawks beat Frölunda HC 3-1 at Kungsbacka Ishall in pre-season action. Petter Vesterheim scored for the third consecutive friendly as Malmö earned their first pre-season win.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Malmö entered the contest with two narrow 1-2 defeats — against Växjö Lakers (14 August) and Kalmar HC (20 August) — but looked sharper from the opening faceoff in Kungsbacka. Malmö head coach Bert Robertsson had called for a step up in tempo and intensity before the match, and his players delivered.
Petter Vesterheim continued his hot pre-season streak, scoring for the third consecutive friendly to put Malmö ahead. The Norwegian forward had been Malmö's only goal scorer in each of their first two pre-season games and made it three in three.
Malmö extended their lead through further goals in the second period, with the physical presence of returning veterans Fredrik Händemark (back from injury) and Klas Dahlbeck (in his first game back in Swedish hockey) giving the Redhawks a clear edge in battles along the boards. Lauri Pajuniemi also made his presence felt.
Frölunda, missing several regulars including Nicklas Lasu, Liam Dower Nilsson, Christian Folin and Stefan Milosevic through injury, struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure against a well-organised Malmö defence. Tobias Normann started in goal with veteran Lasse Johansson rested.
The hosts pulled their goaltender late in the third period and Samuel Fagemo — who had scored the decisive shootout winner against Leksand in the Strömstad Hockey Classic victory just days earlier — found the empty net to make it 3-1.
The Turning Point
Malmö's second goal of the opening period gave the visitors a two-goal cushion that Frölunda never seriously threatened. The Redhawks controlled the neutral zone effectively, limiting Frölunda's top line of Patrik Puistola, Jacob Peterson and Samuel Fagemo to few clean looks at Oskar Blomgren in the Malmö net.
Key Performers
Petter Vesterheim (Malmö Redhawks) — The Norwegian forward scored for the third consecutive pre-season game, establishing himself as Malmö's most dangerous offensive threat during the exhibition schedule. Vesterheim had previously scored against both Växjö (14 August) and Kalmar (20 August).
Samuel Fagemo (Frölunda HC) — Frölunda's best offensive player on the night, Fagemo scored the lone Frölunda goal (empty net) and looked lively on a line with Puistola and Peterson. He was the hero of Frölunda's Strömstad Hockey Classic victory with the decisive shootout goal against Leksand.
Oskar Blomgren (Malmö Redhawks) — The Partille HK product was solid between the pipes for Malmö, making key saves to preserve the lead throughout.
Klas Dahlbeck (Malmö Redhawks) — Making his return to Swedish hockey after a stint abroad, the veteran defenceman brought physicality and composure to the Malmö blue line.
Player of the Match: Petter Vesterheim — Three goals in three pre-season games is an emphatic statement from the Norwegian.
By the Numbers
Malmö's first win of the pre-season after opening with two one-goal losses (1-2 vs Växjö, 1-2 vs Kalmar) moves them to 1-2-0. Frölunda finished their pre-season with a 3-1-0 record, having won the Strömstad Hockey Classic with victories over Leksand (3-2 SO) and Färjestad (2-0) before this result.
From 50 all-time meetings between these SHL rivals, Frölunda still hold the head-to-head advantage (29-21-0), but Malmö have now won the most recent encounter. The fixture has a history of goals — averaging 4.96 per match — and has gone over 2.5 total goals in 48 of 50 meetings (96%).
What It Means
For Malmö, the result provides a confidence boost after two narrow losses to open their pre-season. The Redhawks continue their preparation with matches against Linköping (4 September) and HV71/Örebro (5 September) as part of a Malmö Arena tournament before the SHL season opens 19 September.
Frölunda now turn their attention to competitive action: their Champions Hockey League campaign begins on 4 September at home against Finnish side SaiPa, followed by a home match against KooKoo on 6 September. The SHL season opens 19 September at home against Växjö Lakers.
Verdict
A deserved win for Malmö, who were sharper, more physical and better organised throughout. Frölunda's lengthy injury list (six first-team players unavailable) limited their ability to build continuity in their final pre-season outing, but Robert Ohlsson's side will benefit from the return to competitive hockey when CHL begins next week. Vesterheim's pre-season form is a genuine bright spot for Malmö ahead of the SHL campaign.
Match Events
Frölunda and Malmo have met 50 times — Frölunda won 29, Malmo won 21, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2016. Frölunda leads the head-to-head with 29 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 248 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 4.96 per match (135 for the home side, 113 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 40 matches (80%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 48 games (96%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Frölunda are currently unbeaten in the last 4 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 8–3 in 2020.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 28 Aug 2026