Lulea lost for the sixth in a row after 1–3 at home to Leksand.
And now a small final awaits us at the bottom against old Malmö on Saturday.
Losing there and norrbottningen can be in the place of qualification.
Then it is a serious crisis.
It’s an easy trip to the north bottom now and the question is what will stop the bleeding.
This evening it was already decided after one period with the guys in the early lead 3-1.
For a team that has scored only 2.2 goals per game so far, it will be difficult to win when the opponent has already scored three goals.
And it was, because there was no more.
I know I’m being a bit mean when I call Saturday’s game against Malmö the bottom final.
Luleå is down to 10th and last place in the playoffs at the moment and has Oskarshamn, Rögle and HV71 between them and Malmö.
But theoretically, Lulea could be in the qualification zone after Saturday’s matches and HV71 could already overtake him tomorrow, when they play the E4 derby against Linköping at the Saab Arena.
Not much talk about turning
No, it’s not easy to be a Lulea fan these days and have to yell at the team to “show heart” like they’ve been doing lately.
And at Coop Norrbotten Arena where earplugs were required during the last spring playoffs, you could hear a pin drop after the opening period Thursday night.
I find it hard to see it last forever, but there isn’t much to suggest a shift right now.
Because who will score the goals?
Lulea is the team in the entire SHL crying out loudest for a scorer and they’ve been doing it since the start of the season.
New acquisitions Mario Kempe and Tommy Salinen have not made any difference, but of course they need time.
But even if Mario Kempe scores his goals, he has never been a great goalscorer.
Och is definitely not Tomi Sallinen.
The Finn has yet to score in 22 matches now, if you include last year’s season at Brennas and his time at Czech Cometa Brno earlier this fall.
The last time he scored was in the round of 16 against Örebro last spring.
He is still waiting for his first game in 2022/23.
No solace for fans of a team that has averaged 2.2 goals forward so far in the SHL.
He is the best in the entire SHL
I understand there are bubbles in the ranks.
Last season, the average was almost a goal higher — 3.1 — and that was the difference between success and failure.
And those who made the difference were Linus Omark and, surprisingly, Pontus Anderson.
They scored 39 goals together in the regular season.
Those are the missing targets now.
And in the transfer market where everyone is looking for top scorers, there is none to be found.
This work should have been done long before the season even started, and sporting director Stefan “Skojan” Nilsson should take it upon himself.
I’ve mentioned before how perfect Antti Suomela was as Omark’s replacement.
But it’s the club with the thinnest portfolio of the SHL.
Oskarshamn got right again with a player he left when he took his more organized place. The Finn scored his 14th goal against Frolunda this evening and even played one goal, though it wasn’t enough as Frolunda won 6-3 in the end.
He is the best in the entire SHL.
I wonder if his name is on the Shadows table before this season, though it’s always easy to be late.
Luleå isn’t playing as badly as the results show, even if his 2-7 away defeat to Växjö last Saturday was a rare slap in the face.
Only targets are missing.
Lulea now misses both center Johani Tervenen and King Isak Bernström’s point against Leixand.
And the unfortunate Matthews Ward had to start in goal and was already substituted after a period in which Joel Lacinati entered.
Lassinantti, himself recently substituted against Växjö.
Not much is going well in Lulea right now.
They are 8-26 in goal difference in the last six.
Just one thing.
While Luleå’s losing streak continues, Leksand and Brynäs both break their ground.
Leksand were winless in four games, but pulled off a solid win away at Luleå.
It was never really threatening.
Brennas returned after five consecutive centuries and roared far away in Timra.
It was 4-2 with previously injured Anton Rudin and Johan Larsson returning to the squad.
You can’t complain about it swinging.