Södertälje Sportklubb (SSK) suffered a 1-3 loss to Mora away, squandering a 0-1 lead and marking their fifth consecutive defeat. The team, now in a negative qualification spot, struggled with injuries and inefficiency. Coach Andreas Johansson highlighted issues in the second period as the turning point.
SSK entered the game against Mora on a poor run, with only one win in their last six matches, and faced significant challenges due to injuries. The team was without four forwards—Carter Ashton, Brett Stapley, Måns Lindbäck, and Mitch Lewandowski—leaving them with just 11 forwards. They lined up with three forward lines, two extra forwards, and a seventh defenseman.
The match started positively for SSK, who took a 0-1 lead in the first period without any turnovers. However, the second period proved disastrous, as they recorded 14 turnovers and allowed Mora to take control, leading to the eventual 1-3 final score. SSK managed only one goal on 27 shots, underscoring their ongoing inefficiency.
Post-game, head coach Andreas Johansson pointed to the second period as where they lost the game. "En bra första period. Kollar man på andra perioden... där förlorar vi matchen. Vi blir långa och små, vi har 14 turn-overs. I första hade vi inga turn-overs, där borde vi ha kunnat stänga matchen. Tredje är också bra. De är inte bättre än oss i tredje fram till att de gör det där målet," he said in an interview with TV4.
Johansson also addressed the team's impatience, noting the need for safer play in the neutral zone on the road. "Vi pratar om det. När man åker med pucken i mittzon och spelar på bortaplan så måste man spela tråkiga ytor. Lägga pucken djupt och åka efter. Hade vi gjort det hade de hade tappat tålamodet, det tror jag på. Av någon anledning hade vi inte tålamod att tro på det, det får jag fundera på," he added.
Mora, meanwhile, welcomed back captain Tobias Ekberg for his season debut after a preseason injury, though they were without center Connor MacEachern. SSK now prepares for a home game against AIK, with Johansson emphasizing the need to build energy and create the best conditions for the team.