Skellefteå AIK closed out the regular season with a 3-2 victory away at Djurgårdens IF. Captain Jonathan Pudas played only two periods before leaving the ice. Coach Daniel Hermansson provided reassuring updates on the injuries ahead of the playoffs.
Skellefteå AIK secured a 3-2 win over Djurgårdens IF on the road to end the SHL regular season. The victory was overshadowed by concerns for key players, as captain and defenseman Jonathan Pudas did not finish the game. He logged just under 11 minutes of ice time across two periods before sitting out the third. Pudas had recently returned from an infection that sidelined him for several matches in late February and early March, making his comeback against Rögle BK earlier that week his first action since then. Skellefteå also managed top scorer Oscar Lindberg cautiously throughout the match. The team was without Arvid Lundberg, who had a minor issue, and Oliver Okuliar, sidelined by an injury. Coach Daniel Hermansson minimized the risks, stating about Pudas: “Det är en liten känning, med det ska inte vara någon fara” (It’s a minor feeling, but it shouldn’t be any danger). On Lindberg, he added: “Lite samma där. Det är en lite lätt känning och det finns ingen mening att chansa” (A bit the same there. It’s a light feeling and there’s no point in taking chances). Hermansson indicated that neither absence, nor those of Lundberg and Okuliar, would impact playoff participation. Skellefteå now awaits the lowest-seeded quarterfinal winner from the preliminary rounds, with their best-of-seven series starting March 23. This break offers valuable rest and training time for the squad.
