After a 4-2 win in game one, the side who finished with the better regular season record were out to make home advantage count once again, knowing they would be on the road for games three and four.
At the end of a tight opening period, Modo made that advantage count with two seconds to go, when Mikkel Aagaard broke the deadlock, assisted by Samuel Vigneault.
The same pair then combined to set up Riley Woods four minutes into the second period, before Aagaard got his third point of the night, setting up Victor Berglund to put Modo 3-0 up.
However, a cruise to victory did not materialise, as HV 71 got on the scoreboard with just under seven minutes to go in the second, through Joona Luoto.
And the mood in Ornskoldsvik turned tense with over 18 minutes of the match left, when Oskar Stal-Lyrenas to make it 3-2.
That was one of 11 shots on goal HV 71 had in the third period, but Lassi Lehtinen in the Modo goal stood strong to preserve the lead and secure a 2-0 lead in the series.
Attentions now turn to Husqvarna Garden in Jonkoping for games three and four on March 19th and 21st, respectively, where HV 71 must win at least one match to keep their SHL status alive.