Frölunda Indians suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Djurgården, highlighting their struggling form as the SHL regular season concludes. Coach Robert Ohlsson expressed disappointment after the loss, noting the team's underperformance in recent matches. With playoffs starting next week, Frölunda aims to improve quickly.
Frölunda, set to finish second in the SHL, has secured a playoff spot for a long time but has shown weak form lately. In their most recent 20 matches of the 2026 season, the team earned only 23 points with a goal difference of minus five, placing them worse than all but two other teams. This poor run contributed to losing the league lead to Skellefteå.
The 3-1 loss to Djurgården at Scandinavium, attended by over 11,500 fans, was particularly stinging. Frölunda had previously beaten Djurgården three times, including a dominant 11-2 victory in Globen and 6-1 at Hovet. Coach Robert Ohlsson, appearing subdued in the post-game media session, said, "We are of course not satisfied with our performance. We wanted to play better for our audience. We are disappointed. We can do better."
Over the last 16 games, Frölunda recorded four wins and 15 points, averaging less than one point per match. Ohlsson highlighted the need for higher intensity: "It must be driven up to a higher speed. I think it's a bit too cumbersome, slow, sluggish throughout compared to the top match which was against Luleå (CHL final), this is too slow."
He believes the players are not performing to their potential and urged unity: "I don't think they are resting into this. Now it's up to each one to go out together. We can be better than we have been."
With the SM quarterfinals approaching in just over a week and one regular-season game left, Ohlsson and the staff are working to eliminate uncertainties. He emphasized simplifying play: "It is about removing all question marks so that it doesn't become if you do this or that, but quite simply all the time. Then it usually becomes more skating, more battles, better passing play. That's always the case."
In the game, Ohlsson attempted an early timeout after Djurgården's 1-0 goal to push the team forward, stressing the importance of staying together and living in the moment.
