Djurgården secured a 3-1 victory over Brynäs at Hovet, bouncing back from a 3-7 loss to HV71. Magnus Hellberg returned strong in net after illness, while the club officially signed former NHL defenseman Oliver Kylington for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old was presented to fans before the game.
Djurgården hosted Brynäs in an SHL matchup on Saturday, marking their first meeting in the top league since spring 2022. The team, coming off a heavy 3-7 defeat to HV71, started with changes: forward Viggo Björck, 17, was rested for the first time after playing all 11 prior games, with Arvid Costmar stepping into the fourth line. Björck was sent to the junior team for two matches to build puck possession and development, as explained by coach Robert Kimby: "Rent krasst så var det att få ge honom två matcher i juniorlaget där han får ha väldigt mycket puck och de bitarna."
Magnus Hellberg returned as starting goalie after missing the HV71 game due to illness, with Hugo Hävelid as backup. Kimby praised Hellberg's stability: "I andra perioden har vi x antal minuter där de får skapa för många bra chanser... Han kliver upp stort på ett friläge (Nicklas Bäckström) och ett par starka till." The win improved Djurgården's record, marking their seventh victory of the season.
Pre-game buzz centered on the signing of Oliver Kylington, a Stockholm native with 10 North American seasons, including NHL stints with Calgary, Colorado, and Anaheim. Presented to the Hovet crowd 15 minutes before puck drop, Kylington expressed excitement: "Jag vill vara en X-faktor därute." He described his strengths as a strong skater with puck skills and offensive instincts, noting good form after training with Djurgården's juniors and a Carolina camp. Sport chief Niklas Wikegård highlighted the move: "Oliver är en Stockholmskille... en i grunden skicklich, erfaren och mycket talangfull spelare." Kylington made sacrifices to join despite interest from other clubs and knows teammates like Marcus Krüger and Jacob Josefson. With the signing, Djurgården now has nine defensemen, seen as ideal depth.
Young forward Anton Frondell, 18, had a quieter night with just over 11 minutes of ice time. Kimby noted: "Ibland har man en bra dag, ibland har man en dålig dag... Det är ju så idrott är." On goaltending, Wikegård affirmed no search for a new backup, despite Hävelid's inconsistencies: "Vi tror på Hugo men... är Hugo en målvakt som kan vinna 4–5 matcher åt oss?" Brynäs missed Anton Rödin and played the same lineup as their prior game against Leksand.
