Malmö returns to SHL

The third largest city in Sweden (currently hosting the Women's World Championship) finally has a team in the top league again as IF Malmö Redhawks promote after eight years away from the highest level. The last game of the 7-game series was won 4-2 away to Leksand, but it wasn't an easy way to promotion. Malmö barely made it to the final stage of the qualification after losses to Rögle, Vita Hästen and Björklöven at the stage called Slutspelsserien, but thanks to a higher position in the regular season they got three bonus points which took them ahead of Björklöven and Mora to make it to the last step. The series against Leksand wasn't an easy task either. Malmö won the first game away 4-3 but then Leksand took the lead 2-1 and 3-2. Malmö won game six 6-3 at home and tonight 4-2 away.

Leksand took the lead in the first period through Jonas Frögren but Nils Andersson tied it for Malmö 14 seconds before the first intermission. Jens Henrik Tønjum and Björn Svensson scored 2-1 and 3-1 for Malmö in the second period - both assisted by Fabian Brunnström who spent most of the season with Leksand but transferred to Malmö in January. Tomi Sallinen made it 2-3 but Leksand never managed to tie it. Instead Malmö's captain Henrik Hetta scored 4-2 in the empty net 10 seconds before the buzzer - his first goal of the series.

Today also the qualification to Allsvenskan was decided even if one round remain of the 6-team round robin. AIK stays in Allsvenskan. Pantern, Sundsvall and Tingsryd promote from Division 1. Västervik failed to win promotion while Södertälje relegate from Allsvenskan.

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