According to multiple reports, Leksand, Linköping, Örebro, and Timrå are within four points of each other with two games left in the SHL regular season. Örebro secured a playoff spot after beating Brynäs and Timrå losing to Växjö, according to major media. Luleå leads the quarterfinal series against Frölunda 4-2 and advances to the semifinal, while Skellefteå won the quarterfinal series against Malmö 4-1, according to multiple reports.
Luleå and Skellefteå will meet in the SHL semifinal, according to 21 sources. Rögle became the first Swedish team to come back from 0-3 down in a playoff series, beating Färjestad in the quarterfinal, according to major media. Färjestad's Emil Larmi is absent from the first quarterfinal against Rögle due to a personal tragedy (third miscarriage), according to major media.
We have found something here at the end and in a way I think it's fair.
Melker Thelin starts in goal for Färjestad in the first quarterfinal, with Måns Goos as backup, according to multiple reports. Rögle's Calvin de Haan is suspended for the first two quarterfinal games, according to major media. According to SVT Värmland, Linus Johansson said the team is in a better state of mind this year compared to the 2024 playoff loss to Rögle.
According to Göteborgs-Posten, Robert Ohlsson said the team seeks revenge against Luleå after last season's semifinal loss. According to Hockeysverige, Mathias Bromé described the semifinal against Skellefteå as emotional and fun. Luleå's Linus Omark said he is aware this could be his last career game but hopes not, according to Sportbladet.
It's revenge, no question about it. I think the guys are eager to beat Luleå.
According to Hockeysverige, Pontus Själin described calling his brother Calle for advice on turning the 0-3 deficit, inspired by Rögle's comeback. Frölunda's Christian Folin said the team has a bit of revenge to claim from last year, according to major media. Djurgården has sold out all 26 SHL home games this season, setting a new SHL record, according to major media.
Djurgården's Victor Eklund said the team is very motivated for the playoffs, according to major media. Djurgården's CEO Matthias Sånemyr said there is a 'superboom' in interest since the team returned to SHL, according to major media. Håkan Loob said it is very important for Djurgården and Örebro to get a good start in the best-of-three eighth-final series, according to major media.
Take as much as possible from the other team's top players.
Björklöven faces BIK Karlskoga in the HockeyAllsvenskan final, with Björklöven as favorites, according to major media. According to major media, Johan Garpenlöv stated that Björklöven has the most complete team and that this is the easiest chance they have had to win the final and get promoted. Björklöven's Axel Ottosson said the team has been close several times and will do everything to get promoted, according to major media.
Seven players from Djurgården and Frölunda will miss most of the J20 SM-final due to U18 World Championship commitments, according to major media. The J20 SM-final is played in a best-of-five format for the first time, according to major media. Leksand has lost all five negative qualifiers in the 2000s, according to major media.
I don't want to be worse than my brother.
Leksand's captain Lukas Vejdemo said it is time to change that history, according to major media. According to Hockeysverige, Örebro's Niklas Eriksson described finding something at the end of the season and feeling it is fair to make the playoffs. According to Hockeysverige, Mark Friedman described aiming to take as much as possible from the opponent's top players.
According to Piteå-Tidningen, Pär Lindholm described being good friends with Rögle's Karson Kuhlman but putting that aside for the SM final. According to SVT Småland, Gabriel Olsson described the club's transformation from a small team to a full-house arena. Brynäs' Lucas Pettersson said the team has good form and a good atmosphere for the final stretch, according to major media.
I am aware of it, but I hope not. I will do my best and hope we win.
The second semifinal between Skellefteå and Luleå starts at 20:00, one hour later than usual, to be broadcast on TV4, according to major media. According to Sportbladet, Johan Hemlin described the later start as necessary to reach a wider audience on TV4. Färjestad and the Färjestad trotting track have a sports clash on Good Friday, with both events starting at 15:00, according to major media.
Skellefteå's Daniel Hermansson said the team has a full healthy squad, creating a luxury problem with tough lineup choices, according to Piteå-Tidningen. Luleå's press chief Robert Hedlund said the hockey interest is very high after the pandemic and finals appearances, according to major media. According to Sportbladet, Linus Omark described being aware this could be his last career game but hoping not.
We are basically good friends, but now we put that on pause.
We get some tough choices.
I think we can go all the way. We have what it takes and now we have to deliver when it matters.