WEEKLY RECAP: TIGHT RACE

Flying Up the Standings

Although the SHL has always be known to have parity when it comes to the standings, this week especially showed us how important a single win can be. After Thursday evenings action, just two points separated 10th and 2nd place. 

Coming into Saturdays action, Malmö sat 10th, Linköping sat 9th and Växjö was sitting in 8th.

Malmö had a great showing at home on Saturday afternoon as they bested Örebro 4-2 after a flurry of goals in the second period saw them score four times in under seven minutes. Despite a goal in the third from Örebro, they were unable to muster a comeback. 

Linköping hosted Skellefteå on Saturday evening at SAAB arena and would not disappoint their home fans. Marcus Högberg continues to impress between the pipes and demonstrate that he is one of the top net minders in the league. He turned away all 21 shots he faced in the game and posted his second shutout of the season. A trio of goals from Linköping was more than enough to secure the win, their fourth in a row. 

The Växjö Lakers had an absolutely dominant performace on Saturday in one of the biggest wins of the season so far. Facing off against Oskarshamn at Vida Arena, they put on quite the show for the home fans. They scored three in the first, two in the second and four in the third, while giving up just one. The big 9-1 win snapped a two game losing streak and handed Oskarshamn their third loss in a row. 

JONAS LJUNGDAHL / BILDBYRÅN

After all was said and done on Saturday, Malmö went from 10th to 4th, Linköping went from 9th to 3rd and Växjö now sits 2nd overall after entering the weekend in 8th. All three teams are entering the seasons first break on a high note. 

Ekeståhl Jonsson

After spending last season and the start of this season playing with EHC Kloten in Switzerland, Lucas Ekeståhl Jonsson has rejoined Rögle this week. 

- I can see Lucas helping our power play, but also giving us more stability in our backup lineup when it comes to the game with the puck and being involved in the offence. We are happy to have him back, says Rögle's General Manager Chris Abbott

Tomasek

David Tomasek and Färjestad have come to an agreement on a contract extension. The 27 year old Czech forward has had a great start to the season scoring 8 goals and adding 4 assists in 16 games. Tomasek joined Färjestad this season for his first year in Sweden and it's now confirmed he will be sticking around. 

- David, with his offensive qualities, has given us what we hoped for so far. It is an adjustment to play in the SHL and there we had a thought to have a little patience before we bring out the full potential. However, we think that the adaptation went so well that we now feel comfortable building on the collaboration with Tomášek, says Färjestad's General Manager Rickard Wallin.

Färjestad have signed him on until the end of the 2025/26 season. 

FREDRIK KARLSSON

Landén

It's every young players dream, a contract with the big club and this week saw Axel Landén dream come to fruition. The 18 year old defender has appeared in all 16 games with HV71 so far this season and has now signed his first main team contract. 

- Axel is a great talent who has already shown maturity in his game. A modern defender with a good understanding of the game who has a bright future ahead of him. Extra fun, of course, that he is a HV product, says General Manager Kent Norberg to the club's website.

Luleå

Luleå's signed some bench extensions this week as both assistant coaches Roger Kyrö and Antti Alamäki have extended their contracts. Kyrö is in his seventh season as assistant coach with Luleå and Alamäki is in his second season. 

- We are very satisfied with the work that our coaches put into their team on a daily basis and it therefore feels good that we can continue to work with continuity to take the next step in the business together, says Luleå's General Manager Stefan "Skuggan" Nilsson.

Both contracts are valid through the 2025/26 season.