The relegation scramble
The bottom three teams of Örebro BK (12th), Mora IK (13th) and Timrå IK (14th) are also in a dogfight of their own, separated by just nine points. In fact 12th and 13th positions are only two points apart, with the difference between them not just being one position but a question of not have to go into qualification matches against the top Hockey Allsvenskan teams.
One person who will not be able to be part of that bottom of the the table scrap is American super forward, Aaron Palushaj. As if his season was not bad enough, he has now picked up a season ending injury when he tore his broke his ankle as he found himself at the bottom of a pile up in front of the Mora IK goal on 19 January.
Last season Örebro survived in a similar position with some well chosen end of season signings. But the club blew a lot of money at the beginning of the season on new star signings, like Palushaj, who still sits in 11th on Total Points. So now is the time for current players to step up like current top goal scorer Latvian and Vancouver Canucks drafted, Rodigo Abols and the league's top scoring defenseman, American and Los Angeles Kings drafted Nick Ebert to rescue the Närke club.
Mora IK were able to retain their SHL status last year when they were victorious in the SHL qualification matches. They will want to avoid that this year and will be looking to star Canadian signing Spenser Abbott to continue his great form. The 30 year old comes direct from San Diego Gulls and has played 273 games in the AHL. Now he is 9th in Total Points with 5 goals and an incredible 24 Assists putting him in second place on Assists behind Linköping HC's Derek Roy who leads the league on Total Points.
@ABritOnThinIce1
