This is how the SM finals are played
The playoffs begin already on Saturday with round of 16 finals in the best of three games. The lowest-ranked teams start at home and the highest-ranked teams play at home in game two and a possible third game.
The first six teams are directly qualified for the quarter-finals.
Round of 16:
Match 1, Saturday 11/3: Luleå–Oskarshamn, Rögle–Leksand.
Match 2, Monday 13/3: Oskarshamn–Luleå, Leksand–Rögle.
Possible match 3, Tuesday 14/3: Oskarshamn– Luleå, Leksand–Rögle.
Quarter Finals:
Played in best of seven games. Top ranked teams start at home, every other home and away game.
Thursday 16/3
Växjö (1)-Luleå/Rögle/Leksand (8), Färjestad (3)-Frölunda (6).
Other match days: 18/3, 20, 22, possibly 24, 26 and 28/3.
Friday 17/3
Skellefteå (2)–Oskarshamn/Leksand/Rögle (7), Örebro (4)–Timrå (5).
Other match days: 19, 21, 23, possibly 25, 27 and 29/3.
Timrå climbed past both Oskarshamn and Frölunda – who both lost – and up to fifth place. This means that the Medelpad team is ready for the quarter-finals in their first SM play-off since 2010.
Örebro is waiting there.
— I feel incredible pride for the entire association. It cost us a bit today, but it will be damn fun, says team captain Anton Lander to C More.
But the injury to national team forward Jonathan Dahlén is pure nightmare for Timrå.
Dahlén had time to score his 42nd point (20 goals+22 assists) when he was marked for a passing point to Albin Lundin’s 1–0 after 12.26 of the first period.
Made his way to the shoulder
But soon after, the damage came. Dahlén received a shot from Rögle’s Adam Engström on the foot, fell and caught himself on the ice with his left hand. Then the pain came, he threw off his gloves and grabbed his shoulder as he went towards his own substitution booth and into the dressing room straight away.
“You never want a teammate to go out and be in pain, but it looked calm in the dressing room,” says goal scorer Albin Lundin to C More.
But after the first period break, coach Anders Karlsson announced that Dahlén would not play any more in the match.
In the second period, defender Axel Rindell also had to be helped off the ice after a hip tackle from Rögle’s Valtteri Viljanen.
“Want to do something good”
Timrå was seventh before the end of the regular season and in the even table there were several different scenarios for the outcome.
Timrå was on the same points as sixth place Oskarshamn, but had a three-goal worse goal difference and three points behind fifth place Frölunda.
A top 6 place would give a trip home and a week’s rest before the quarter-finals.
A place in the round of 16 would mean either staying in Ängelholm for the match against Rögle on Saturday, a trip to Leksand for the match, or a long trip to Luleå.
Now it was time to go home and recharge for the start of the quarterfinals next Thursday.
— We want to try to do something good now. We have a good team, says Lander.
Defender Joonas Lyytinen poked in the 2-0 puck after 5.31 of the third period after Albin Lundin’s shot ended up behind home goalkeeper Christoffer Rifalk, but just in front of the goal line.
Samuel Jonsson reduced and then Brady Ferguson had an open goal in the final seconds – but shot wide.