Skellefteå AIK secured a 3-2 victory on the road against Rögle BK in game four of the SHL final series. The win gives Skellefteå a commanding 3-1 lead, leaving them one victory away from their fifth Swedish championship. Game five is scheduled for Saturday in Skellefteå Kraft Arena.
Skellefteå AIK dominated early in Ängelholm, taking control in the first period. Emil Djuse scored the opener with time in the offensive zone, followed by Viktor Grahn's first final goal from the blue line to make it 2-0. Grahn credited a good pass and some luck to TV4: “Jätteroligt. Jag får en bra passning och det är lite flyt att den går in, men jag tycker att vi förtjänar det.” Pär Lindholm later extended the lead to 3-1 before Linus Sandin pulled one back for Rögle in a tense finish as the home team pushed for a tie. Lindholm remained cryptic about his goal, telling TV4: “Jag vet varför jag gjorde mål i dag.” When pressed, he added: “Det tar vi när vi har vunnit guld.” Skellefteå, pursuing their fifth SM-guld after titles in 1978, 2013, 2014, and 2024, can clinch the series at home on Saturday. Charles “Challe” Berglund, a former Olympian and SHL expert, noted Rögle's sloppiness created Skellefteå's edge, calling it “game over” amid disarray in the Rögle camp. Separate reports highlighted contract situations for Skellefteå players like Max Krogdahl, who has pondered his future but focuses on the playoffs. Krogdahl said: “Man har funderat lite och vi har pratat lite om det, men just nu är mitt fokus fullt på slutspelet.” Lars Bryggman is reportedly set to leave for Finland, while Martin Lundberg's future remains undecided.
