Ferry town against home advantage in the quarterfinals

Behind the clear series winner Luleå, the top teams fight for the table positions in the final series rounds in the SHL ice hockey.

It's about gaining home-ground advantage as far as possible in the upcoming playoffs.

Two of the teams that really need the support from the stands met in Karlstad on Saturday.

Färjestad has taken 22 more points at home than outside Värmland during the season.

For Djurgården, who is up in 15 straight victories in Stockholm and is the league's second best home team, the difference is even greater: 32 points.

The duo is thus most sensitive to arena in the current quarterfinals quintet behind Luleå - where Skellefteå and to an even greater extent Rögle and HV71 have been clearly stronger on away ice.

Färjestad took a firm grip on the statistics and started strongest.

The home team took advantage of their first powerplay and took the lead by 1–0 through Daniel Viksten. Less than three minutes later, Jesper Olofsson put 2-0. Zoo keeper Karri Rämö, who substituted for suspended Niklas Svedberg, dropped both pucks at his right post and should have steered Olofsson's shot from an almost nonexistent angle.

Färjestad controlled the match until the team's captain Linus Johansson led by bad example and drew on an unnecessary expulsion. Patrik Berglund parked in the castle, shot directly at Michael Haga's pass and reduced to 1-2.

In the middle of the second period, a lot happened in a short time.

When Djurgården's Jason Garrison sat dejected, teammate Manuel Ågren left the Färjestads defense and lifted the puck into the bar. About a minute later, Jonathon Blum "saved" a lousy powerplay for Färjestad when he sent the puck from his own zone to the offensive blue line and released Per Åslund, who put 3-1 in Rämö's right intersection.

The animal farm was soon given a golden reduction position. Home goalkeeper Arvid Holm made a bad "outing" and threw the club to defend his goal. However, Sebastian Strandberg missed the ensuing penalty.

After the discharge in the middle period, it became more sparse between the giant chances and Färjestad could relatively easily hold off to a much needed victory. Per Åslund put 4-1 in the empty cage.