LaschWith just two games left in the regular season there is still plenty to play for - especially in the wildcard positions of 6-10, where it can go down to the last shot in the last minute of the last game to decide the final standings.
At the top of the table only Luleå HF and Färjestad BK can win the league. And these two teams will meet on Tuesday night in Karlstad. If Luleå win they will take the title from under their rivals' noses. If they lose it will go down to the last game of the season. On Thursday both teams have tough matches, Luleå away to Växjö Lakers with Färjestad at home to Djurgården IF.
Frölunda Indians are safe for the playoffs in third followed by Växjö and Djurgården and Skellefteå AIK in positions 4-6. These last three teams are almost guaranteed a playoff spot even if they lose both matches. Statistically they could fall out of an automatic playoff spot but if they win one game they are definitely safe.
Frölunda's Ryan Lasch (pictured) is nine points clear of Skellefteå's Joakim Lindström and looks set to win his second Top Scorer's title barring an unlikely goal spree from the Norrbotten club in their final two games.
The real area of uncertainty is positions 7 to 12 currently separated by just 11 points. In 11th and 12th Örebro BK and Linköping HC must win both their games and see teams above them lose. So Linköping's matches against Brynäs IF and then HV71 will be crucial in determining the shape of this part of the table.
Malmö Redhawks are currently top of this pile in seventh at the moment. But their two "six pointers" at home against Rögle BK on Tuesday and Örebro on Thursday will also play a key role in influencing the final table.
Meanwhile, as predicted by a Brit On Thin Ice before the season started, at the bottom of the table things are already decided with both Mora IK and Timrå IK set to play in the SHL qualification matches against the top teams in the Hockey Allsvenskan.
@ABritOnThinIce1
