Mid Season Recap: The Road So Far

(GPG - Goals per game, GAPG - Goals against per game, PP% - Powerplay percentage, PK% - Penalty kill percentage)

1. Färjestad

This one comes as no surprise as the team from Karlstad is often one of the stronger teams in the league. However they are having a particularly strong outing so far this season. They currently sit first overall with 51 points in 25 games played. So they still have one game remaining until they hit the true midway point of their season. They are looking to improve upon their third place finish from last season and are on pace for their first 100 point season since 2018/19.

GPG: 3.4

GAPG: 2.2

PP%: 22.39

PK%: 87.5

+/-: +30

2. Växjö 

Another team that was expected to do well this season and is living up to the expectations is last years regular season winners and SHL Champs the Växjö Lakers. The Lakers have finished first overall in the regular season four times in the past seven seasons and won four Championships since 2015. So it comes as no surprise that they are once again near the top of the standings. They are on pace to put up their third 100 point season in the past four years. They currently sit second overall with 50 points in 26 games played. 

GPG: 3.08

GAPG: 2.12

PP%: 28.07

PK%: 75.38

+/-: +25

3. Linköping

Probably one of the biggest surprises of the season so far is the play and success of Linköping. LHC has struggled over the past few seasons with their last playoff appearance coming in 2018. Although they have just barely avoided having to play in the relegation round over the past five seasons, this years team just feels different. Led by new Captain Oscar Fantenberg, bolstered by veterans such as Broc Little and Markus Ljungh, and led in points by Ty Rattie, this years squad has greatly impressed. Not to mention the play of Marcus Högberg between the pipes. LHC is on pace to finish in the top six for the first time since 2017. They currently sit third overall with 45 points in 26 games played. 

GPG: 2.92

GAPG: 2.54

PP%: 21.88

PK%: 72.88

+/-: +10

PETER HOLGERSSON / BILDBYRÅN

4. Skellefteå

Another team most people expected to play well this season was Skellefteå and they have not disappointed so far. Skellefteå has not finished outside the top six since 2008 and, at the moment, it would appear that's not going to change this season. Despite their high standing they have sorely missed their longtime Captain Oscar Möller. The 34 year old continues to deal with the effects of exhaustion syndrome and is not expected to return this season. Möller finished second overall on the team in points last season and has been an integral part of the organisation for years. Despite the gap he leaves in the roster, players like Oscar Lindberg and Max Lindholm have stepped up in a big way. And of course Jonathan Pudas continues to put up big numbers from the blue line. They currently sit fourth overall with 43 points in 25 games played.

GPG: 2.52

GAPG: 2.12 

PP%: 31.94

PK%: 85.71

+/-: +10

5. Timrå

After rejoining the league two seasons ago it looked as if it would be a short stint for Timrå after they finished dead last in the regular season. However, they won the relegation round and saved themselves from dropping down to Hockey Allsvenskan once again. Last season, they really turned things around. They finished fifth overall and were knocked out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals. They're hoping to build upon last years success and they've done just that so far. With 43 points in 25 games played they are on pace to eclipse last years total of 81 points. Led by Emil Pettersson and Robin Hanzl in points, this years team is looking as strong as they ever have.

GPG: 2.6

GAPG: 2.52

PP%: 22.41

PK%: 75.00

+/-: +2

6. Frölunda

Rounding out the top six at the halfway point of the season is the team from Gothenburg. The most noticeable difference on this years squad is, of course, the absence of their longtime captain Joel Lundqvist. Lundqvist announced his retirement at the end of last season after 915 games played in the SHL, all with Frölunda. Another notable absence from this years squad is Ryan Lasch, who did not renew his contract at the end of last season. Despite the departure of two of their longtime superstars, Frölunda has still put together a successful campaign so far. They currently sit sixth overall with 41 points in 27 games. 

GPG: 2.48

GAPG: 2.48

PP%: 27.94

PK%: 77.61

+/-: 0

DAVID WRELAND / BILDBYRÅN

7. Luleå 

After finishing in the top six four years in a row, including being the best team in the regular season in 2020, Luleå dropped in the standings last season. They were able to just scrape into the playoffs with a 10th place finish in the regular season. They are looking to bounce back this year and finish in the top six once again, but they have a long road ahead of them. Although they have just a single player in the top 20 when it comes to points, they do have seven players with at least 12 points. So they are getting depth scoring so far. They are also backed by the incredible play of Matteus Ward who is having himself a career season between the pipes.  They also have had some of the best special teams play so far this season. They currently sit seventh with 40 points in 25 games. 

GPG: 2.6

GAPG: 2.28

PP%: 31.65

PK%: 87.01%

+/-: +8

8. Leksand

Despite the fact they currently sit eighth overall Leksand actually has the leagues third best +/- when it comes to goals for and against. This is due to the fact that they have had a number of lopsided wins this season as well as three shutout games. However they have struggled against the top teams in the league and have gotten the majority of their points against teams that sit outside the top six. Although they do have an overtime victory against Växjö and a regulation win against Linköping early in the season. So they have the firepower and have proven they can win against the best, however they need to find more consistency if they hope to crack the top six by the end of the season. They also need to improve their special teams, which have struggled in both aspects so far. They currently have 39 points in 25 games. 

GPG: 2.88

GAPG: 2.32

PP%: 18.87%

PK%: 71.67%

+/-: +14

9. MoDo

All things considered, the SHL's newest team should consider their season so far a success. Not a resounding success, but a success none the less. As is so often the case, new teams in the league struggle to find their footing in their first season in Swedens top league, but MoDo has shown signs of life so far this year. They started the season strong with big wins against Linköping and HV71 and had an overtime victory against Färjestad. They do currently have a winning record, however four of their thirteen wins have come in overtime, meaning they's missed out on valuable points. They have also greatly struggled on the penalty kill and their powerplay could use improvement. However, if they are able to hold onto a playoff berth by the end of the season, they will have beaten the odds when it comes to their first season back in the league. 

GPG: 2.48

GAPG: 2.84

PP%: 21.54

PK%: 60.78

+/-: -9

10. Örebro

The early stages of the season saw Örebro challenging for top spot in the league. They started the season on a four game win streak and claimed points in their first seven games. However, since October 26th they have won just once and lost a staggering twelve times, claiming just six points in those thirteen games. It's hard to say what caused the abrupt and sudden struggles of Örebro. Like other teams that are currently sitting outside the top six, their special teams performance has been lack luster, especially the powerplay. However, this team has shown us they have what it takes to compete with the best and perhaps they will find a way to turn it around and push back towards the top of the standings. They currently have 35 points in 25 games. 

GPG: 2.6

GAPG: 2.72

PP%: 16.67

PK%: 70.18

+/-: -3

JOHAN BERNSTRÖM / BILDBYRÅN

11. Rögle

The team from Ängelholm led by the Abbot brothers is having another season marked by struggles. After finishing in the top three, three years in a row, including a first place finish in the regular season, they finished ninth last year and were bounced from the playoffs in the quarterfinals. It seems that their struggles have followed them into this season as they find themselves on the outside looking in. Their superstar forward Adam Tambellini has not been performing the way we've seen him perform over the past couple of seasons, their powerplay is the one of the worst in the league and their two goaltenders, who have shared the duties this season are both sitting under .900 in SV%. Whatever the issue is with this years team, they'll need to turn things around in the second half if they hope to make it six years in a row with a playoff appearance. They have 32 points in 25 games played.

GPG: 2.48

GAPG: 3.04

PP%: 15.94

PK%: 81.03

+/-: -14

12. Malmö

Unfortunately for the Redhawks this season is fairly on par with the way they have performed over the past few seasons. They saved themselves from relegation last year, finished 12th the year before that and 9th the previous two seasons. They are currently on an eight games losing streak with their last win coming all the way back on November 4th, a 4-2 win over Örebro. However it hasn't all been doom and gloom for the Redhawks so far, they have had a few bright spots. Their powerplay has been working decently and they have been getting points from two of their Finnish imports Janne Kuokkannen and Lauri Pajuniemi. They currently have 30 points in 25 games played. 

GPG: 2.72

GAPG: 2.8

PP%: 24.14

PK%: 73.53

+/-: -2

13. HV71

The team from Jönköping have had their struggles ever since returning to the league last season and this season seems to be just as tough for them as last year. They don't have a single player in the top 25 when it comes to points and their goaltending has been less than stellar. They have the leagues second worst +/- in the goals for and against category and they currently have 29 points in 25 games played. 

GPG: 2.68

GAPG: 3.72

PP%: 21.67

PK%: 65.22

+/-: -26

14. Oskarshamn

It's hard to find anything positive to say about the performance from Oskarshamn so far this season. They are having one of the worst SHL seasons in recent memory and already 13 points back of 12th place. So, barring a miraculous turn around, it's already looking like they will be in this years relegation round. They have shown steady improvement since joining the league for the 2019/2020 season, even finishing seventh in the standings last year. However this season has been nothing but hardship for them. They have won just four games in regulation and two in overtime. Despite their struggles they have one lone bright-spot, which is their powerplay, which has been one of the best in the league so far. Unfortunately that has not been enough to keep them afloat this season. They currently have just 17 points in 25 games played.

GPG: 2.12

GAPG: 3.92

PP%: 30.91

PK%: 72.73

+/-: -45

PÄR OLERT / BILDBYRÅN