After another loss, the Vikings are traveling to Kristianstad to face off against the Predators. The Predators currently rank fourth in the league, winning one game and losing two. This is a prime opportunity for the Vikings to get their first win of the season, against a team that is supposedly weaker than opponents in previous games.
Coming into the season, the Kristianstad Predators were unknown to the Vikings. The Predators one win came against AIK, another team unknown to the Vikings, so it is hard to say what lies ahead in this matchup. The Vikings have performed better on offense, gaining more yards and scoring more points. On average, the Vikings have scored 20.8 points per game compared to the Predators 15 points per game.
However, the Predators defense have looked a lot more impenetrable than the Vikings defense. The Predators have allowed 6 less points per game and almost 60 fewer yards. This is apparent in the Predators point differential, where they are ahead of the Vikings by 21 points. Now, the Vikings point differential would have looked a lot better if not for a dud against the Crusaders, so this matchup will be a good opportunity for the Vikings to get their first W of the season.
Players to watch
One man that needs to be stopped is #2 Jakob Stenberg. He is the leader in reception yards, kick return yards, punt return yards, touchdowns, all while adding 2 rushing attempts for another 35 yards. In total, Stenberg has logged 473 all purpose yards, more than twice as many as the next player for the Predators. It looks like a key to stopping the Predators will be stopping Stenberg.
One player that will be looking to stop the Predators offense is #20 Vetle Skagmo. In three games played, he has come up with two turnovers, one fumble recovery and one interception. It’s hard to score points as an offense without the ball, and Skagmo may very well produce another turnover against a Predators offense that has turned the ball over at least once per game this season.
Another Vikings defender will be worth looking at more closely against the Predators, LB #10 Sigurd Stenseng. In four games, he has recorded 16.5 total tackles, good for fifth in the league. Against the Mean Machines, Stenseng stepped up his game and recorded 1.5 tackles for loss along with a fumble recovery.
The Vikings raiding party sets off for Sweden on Friday afternoon for their third away game of the season. The game kicks off at 15.00 May 11th. Support the boys! The game can be streamed here: https://www.swe3play.se/livestream/s-superserien-herr-kristianstad-predators-oslo-vikings-0lxhr