The SHL has been hit hard by the corona pandemic throughout the season.

A large number of matches have been moved and the basic series has already been extended.

April 5, the playoffs are scheduled to start.

SHL now announces that most changes will take place before the decision.

The format of the semifinals will change.

Instead of a series of seven matches as it has been before, the best of five matches applies to this playoffs.

The order changes

The order for home and away matches is also changing.

This is to streamline the game schedule.

This year, the highest ranked team in each match series will start with two home matches, then two away matches before taking turns playing at home.

In the round of 16, which is decided over three matches, the highest ranked teams start away and then follow two matches at home.

- As previously announced, we have made adjustments to the schedule for home and away matches, but now we are also making changes regarding the semifinals as a result of the basic series being extended.

With these changes, we look forward to the upcoming playoffs, says Johan Hemlin, sports director and vice president of SHL on the league's website.

The playoffs begin with the first of the three quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals begin April 10.

The playoffs end on May 15 with a possible seventh and decisive Swedish Championship final.

KLIPP: Here, Oskarshamn's Nolan Zajac becomes a great match hero when he puts 3-2 against Malmö

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Here, Oskarshamn's Nolan Zajac becomes a great match hero when he puts 3-2 against Malmö.

Photo: Bildbyrån