Tingsryds AIF – Vimmerby HC 17- 03 – 2025

The time for seriousness is truly here. This is the fight for survival in the Hockeyallsvenskan.

The two worst teams will go out here in match number 3. This time it is Tingsryds AIF who will take on Vimmerby HC for a home match in Dackehallen. The score is so far 1-1 in matches, after Vimmerby HC has had two home matches. The first match ended with a narrow victory for today's away team, while match two ended with a landslide victory for today's home team. Could that have given them the small advantage they need in this best of 7 match playoff. We think so.

If so, it will mean an enormous amount to the town.

Tingsryds AIF – Everything is as expected.

That Tingsyd would be down here playing for survival is no surprise. The team was tipped as one of the 3 weakest teams before the season, and it was also these 3 teams that it would be between in the end.

It lasted a long time, but in the end it was Østersund who ran away with the safe place of these 3. Tingsryd finished 3 points behind the safe place, such a narrow margin. They have had a very good start to this qualification to survive. Because by finishing last, it was today's opponent who ran away with the home field advantage. They have now got it back by winning one of the first two away games. That was important. It was also a bit of a convincing way to do it, as they won a full 5-0. It must have been a bit of a confidence boost before the home game here. The team was completely superior.

We believe the psychological aspect of this will be of great importance to this match. So we feel the home team has every chance. The balance of power between these two teams is basically very even. Tingsryd has scored 20 goals less this year, but also conceded 18 goals less than today's opponent. So here factors such as home field, psychological advantage, and other similar parameters will be decisive. We feel Tingsryd are the ones who have the trump card now.

Vimmerby HC – A punch in the face.

There is no doubt that Vimmerby had hoped to win the first two home games. But now the favorite stamp has swung over to today's opponent. It will be up to them to swing the arrow in their direction again. but we think the last result was a real slap in the face. A 5-0 loss at home in such an important game will raise many questions. They were regularly played off the field, and will certainly try to gather themselves for this one.

We think this team will have to struggle with their heads. Because if you go back to the league game, it looked for a long time as if Vimmerby would be the team that saved the place of the 3 that fought for it. Because even though Vimmerby finished with 3 wins in the last 5, Østersund managed to win 4 of the last 5. Thus, Vimmerby had to see themselves beaten on goal difference. In other words, the smallest possible margin.

We think that was tough, and combined with the ugly home loss recently, we expect the team to have to fight some demons that are about to come out. It's easy to feel sorry for yourself in a situation like that. We think the team is about to break.

Conclusion – Experience is worth its weight in gold.

Tingsryds has several years of experience fighting at the bottom of this division, and we believe that is an advantage.

Vimmerby, who were promoted before this season, will probably notice that there is something very special about being in this. In that sense, this could easily be the only year this team gets promoted in this division. There are many teams that want to get promoted from the division below, and we think that if Vimmerby gets relegated again, there is no guarantee that they will get promoted again anytime soon.

If we look at the internal matches from earlier this year, Tingsryd has an advantage here too. The team has won 3 out of 4 matches. Both home matches have been won. With all this in mind, together with the last result, we have a lot of faith in the home team in this one. We will try this one.

Hockey at 19:00: Tingsryds AIF - Vimmerby HC: Tingsryds AIF wins (2.10)