Djurgården defeated Luleå 4-1 at Hovet in Stockholm, clinching their SHL spot for the 2026/2027 season despite missing four key centers. The win came after a string of recent losses and highlighted strong team effort and goaltending. Coach Robert Kimby praised the players' resilience in the face of injuries.
Djurgården hosted Luleå on Saturday evening at Hovet, drawing a sellout crowd for the 31st consecutive home game. The team entered the match having lost four of their last five games following the Olympic break, including defeats to Örebro (1-4) and Leksand (2-5). Despite the absences, Djurgården converted all three power-play opportunities into goals, scoring three times while firing just three shots in those situations.
The lineup was reshuffled due to injuries to centers Arvid Costmar, Jacob Josefson, Marcus Krüger, and Oula Palve. Forward David Blomgren shifted to center for his first SHL appearance in that role, having done so previously in HockeyAllsvenskan. Defenseman Gustav Lindström and forward Albin Grewe were also sidelined, while Linus Klasen was not at full strength. Five juniors featured, including Marcus Nordmark, who returned after two months out.
Magnus Hellberg returned in goal and stopped 24 of 25 shots, providing stability. Goals came from Joey LaLeggia (1-0 on power play), Victor Eklund (2-1 on power play), Mathias Emilio Pettersen (3-1), and Charles Hudon (4-1). Blomgren assisted on the third goal, and forward Viggo Björck won 7 of 9 faceoffs in the first period.
Coach Robert Kimby commented on the performance: "The team effort and how we play for each other is great. We handled momentum swings well today." He noted Blomgren's strong play at center and the need to manage ongoing injuries, particularly Krüger's status for the upcoming game against Växjö on Tuesday. Kimby added, "We take it day by day and evaluate."
With three games remaining, Djurgården sits five points ahead of Linköping, who occupy 11th place. The victory ensures their SHL retention but keeps playoff aspirations alive. Luleå assistant coach Henrik Stridh highlighted Björck's shot-blocking in the closing minutes.
