Hv71 – Frølunda HC 20-02-2025

The Swedish top league SHL is heading towards the playoffs with 9 games remaining. There is a fight for places. Some for the playoffs, others for survival. Here the top meets the bottom when Hv71, who is at the very bottom of the table, takes on Frølunda HC, who is in number 3.

The home field, Husqvarna Garden, which holds a full 7,000 spectators, is the place this HV71 team thrives best. But do they thrive well enough? We don't think so!

Hv71 – The team we tipped at the bottom right from the start.

We are approaching the playoffs, and the table is to be decided. Hv71 is at the very bottom of the table with 9 games to go. Just as we assumed in the first analysis of the year from SHL. They still have the opportunity to salvage a playoff spot if relegated. But then they have to move two or three places higher in the table, and there are now 6 and 7 points separating them. We think that could be tough.

Although they took a strong win away against Skellefteå in the previous match. A match that was about being close behind, and exploiting the opportunities ahead. The match ended with few goals, and 2-1 after extra time gave them two important points in the fight for survival. Before this match, however. Hv71 is coming from a really bad period. They had 6 losses in a row, and all after full time, which means 0 points in that period. Many of these also came against weak teams, and ugly home losses 1-5 against Modo and 1-4 against Malmö made the fans boo the team off the fields.

Earlier this year, this has been the place the team has taken their points, but they now look completely out of shape. We think they will have a tough time against one of the form teams in the series in this match. One of the most striking things is the goal difference over these 7 matches. It is 8-22 in this period. There can't be many points from that.

Looking at the remaining match schedule. Is there much that will be needed for this team to save a playoff place against relegation this season. Because in addition to this top team, they have all the other top teams left as well. For example, away against Brynas, Luleå and Farjestad. The pressure on many of the young players has become too great. Both the management and the players themselves have stated this. Of course, it can lead to having nothing to lose anymore, as we saw in the last match. But we do not think the team has the quality needed to climb.

Frølunda HC – Powerplay and playoff form.

Frølunda HC, who many expected to be part of the upper echelons of the SHL this season, have delivered according to expectations. With their recent form, they have climbed to a nice 3rd place, with the same points as Luleå, who are in the first place. It seems like they are too far up to 1st place, where there is a 13-point difference.

But 2nd place will give a great ranking heading into the playoffs, and will put them in a good position in terms of home field advantage. The team has 4 wins in the last four, and seems to have found the form in time for the playoffs. This is largely due to their power play game having come into place. They are now a completely different threat there than earlier in the season. They also talk about this themselves, and it gives them confidence towards the end. As many know, you depend on a good game in both overtime and undertime to get far. It looks like this team is about to find it. They have now power play goals in all of their last matches, and a total of 6 in 4 matches. These are championship team facts.

They are also scoring well with goals now, and it suits them well when they are now going to face a team that concedes a lot more than they score. Both they and the opponent know this. Which will certainly give them some space in 5-5 to avoid penalties. It can also create dangers. They have a lot of goal scorers in this team, so it will also suit Frølunda HC well.

Conclusion – Only one team on the field.

The team that is at the bottom of both the top of the league table and the regular table, meets the team that is at the top of the league table, and a nice 3rd place in the regular table. The matches between the teams have been even earlier this year. But Frølunda HC has run away with 2 out of 3 wins so far. We quickly believe that they are the ones who win again. The team is trying hard to get up to 2nd place during the remaining matches, and the team is looking good these days. It seems like the team is a bit in playoff mode already. While Hv71 looks a bit resigned.

We therefore recommend the following games.

Hockey at 19:00: Hv71 – Frølunda HC: Frølunda HC wins (2.13)