Jonathan Pudas, captain of Skellefteå AIK, suffered a leg injury early in the first SM semifinal against Luleå. Skellefteå won the marathon match 4-3 after more than 122 minutes, the longest in SM-slutspel history, and leads the best-of-seven series 1-0. Pudas is expected to miss time until late in the series.
Skellefteå AIK opened its SM semifinal series against Luleå with a hard-fought 4-3 victory that stretched over 122 minutes. The game marked the longest in SM-slutspel history. During his fifth shift in the first period, team captain Jonathan Pudas took a hit to the leg and did not return, leaving his team to grind out the win without him. Skellefteå now holds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup. Skellefteå AIK has not commented on Pudas' condition. According to NSD, the nearly 33-year-old defenseman faces a recovery of one to two weeks. That timeline means he could return late in the series if it extends, keeping hopes alive for his participation deeper in the playoffs. Pudas enjoyed a standout SHL regular season, setting a personal record with 47 points—16 goals and 31 assists—in 48 games. It was the fourth time in the past five seasons he surpassed 40 points as a right-shooting defenseman. His absence tests Skellefteå's depth early in the postseason.
