Södertälje SK fell 2-1 to Kalmar HC away, marking their fourth consecutive loss and sixth defeat in seven games. The team sits tied for last place with Troja-Ljungby. Head coach Andreas Johansson remains optimistic despite the struggles.
SSK's challenging season continued with a narrow 2-1 loss to Kalmar on the road. The match highlighted ongoing issues for the team, as noted by Hockeynews columnist Adam Gunnarsson, who emphasized the need for change after one-third of the season has passed with SSK on a negative qualification spot.
In the first period, SSK showed promise but couldn't capitalize. Måns Lindbäck missed a breakaway, and Patrik Zackrisson had a deflection land behind Kalmar goaltender Jacob Crespin, only for the defense to clear it. Kalmar scored the opener late in the frame during a power play, with the puck deflecting off a shaft after a missed shot. SSK lost composure following the goal, similar to their recent home game against AIK where the opponents gained momentum.
The second period was dismal for SSK, described as 'under all criticism' by Lindbäck. Kalmar dominated with speed and finesse, outshooting SSK 14-4 and maintaining puck possession. The 2-0 goal came amid this control, though it involved some misfortune for the visitors.
SSK mounted an aggressive push in the third, including a 6-on-5 effort, but could only manage a late reduction to make it 2-1. Gunnarsson pointed to struggles from veteran defensemen Niklas Arell and Jonas Ahnelöv, who have had trouble with pace and puck handling in their own zone. The lack of top-end talent limits coach Andreas Johansson's ability to adjust, despite his match-coaching style.
Johansson, speaking to TV4, praised the team's effort: 'I think we have a very good first period... On the whole, we make a good away game against a team that's hot here.' He addressed the inefficiency, noting missed opportunities like the early breakaway and a lack of power plays over two games. Despite the skid, Johansson stressed positivity: 'We try to be positive. We try to come with energy every day... For me, there's only one way: run through the storm.'