What: The SM finals in ice hockey for men.
When: The first match is played on Saturday.
Schedule:
Final 1, April 19: Brynäs–Luleå (15.15).
Final 2, April 21: Brynäs–Luleå (20.00).
Final 3, April 23: Luleå–Brynäs (20.00).
Final 4, April 26: Luleå–Brynäs (15.15).
Ev final 5, April 28: Brynäs–Luleå (20.00).
Ev final 6, May 1: Luleå–Brynäs (14.00).
Ev final 7, May 3: Brynäs–Luleå (15.15).
+ This season's meetings.
Brynäs has 3–1 in matches during the regular season, 19/10: 3–0 (away), 16/11 3–4 (home), 16/1: 3–1 (away), 13/2 2–1 e forfeit (home).
+ The road to the final.
Brynäs: Malmö (quarterfinal) 4–2 in matches, Skellefteå (semifinal) 4–1. Luleå: Växjö (quarter) 4–1, Frölunda (semi) 4–2.
+ Can complete a historic season.
Brynäs became historic already when the club as the first newcomer won SHL's regular season. Now the Gävle team can complete its successful return to the top league by winning the SM gold. In that case, the club's 14th in order.
+ Bitter final memories.
Both teams have bitter final memories from last time it happened.
Brynäs fell in overtime in the seventh and decisive SM final 2017 against HV71. At that time led by now Luleå coach Thomas "Bulan" Berglund.
Luleå fell 2022 in the seventh and decisive SM final – to make matters worse, on home ground – against Färjestad.
+ Second final meeting.
Brynäs and Luleå met in the SM final 1993 where the Gävle team turned a deficit with 0–2 in matches and won with 3–2 in the final series, which was then decided in best of five matches. Three of the gold heroes that time are now in the Brynäs box, successful coach Niklas Gällstedt and assistant coaches Anders "Masken" Carlsson (then team captain) and Ove Molin.
+ Long wait for new gold celebration.
The supporters in Luleå are yearning for an SM gold success. Despite the club having been in the top league for 41 years, it has only become one meager SM gold, 1996. Coach Thomas Berglund was one of the gold heroes.
The other four times the team played the final, it ended with silver defeat.
+ Experts have been right – so far.
Radiosporten's expert commentator Johan Garpenlöv and TV4 expert Petter Rönnqvist tipped the SM gold winner for TT before the SM playoffs.
Both tipped differently, but are both still in the match.
Former national team captain Garpenlöv bet on Luleå and former top goalie Rönnqvist on Brynäs.
Who gets it right remains to be seen.
+ Form-strongest players.
Pontus Andreasson, Luleå, is both goal-top scorer and point-top scorer in the SM playoffs so far. Luleå goalie Matteus Ward best of the final goalies.
Here are the players on both teams who have carried their teams best so far:
+ Points:
Pontus Andreasson, Luleå, 11 matches–9 goals–5 assists–14 points.
Anton Rödin, Brynäs, 11–2–9–11.
Goals:
Andreasson 9 goals.
Oskar Lindblom and Jakob Silfverberg, Brynäs, 5 goals.
Assists:
Frederic Allard, Luleå, 12 assists.
Anton Rödin, Brynäs, 9.
Goalies:
Matteus Ward, Luleå, 7–1 in match record, 92.42 in save percentage.
Ludvig Persson, Brynäs, 4–2, 91.04.
Erik Källgren, Brynäs, 4–1, 87.70.
+ The last five years' SM finals.
2024: Skellefteå–Rögle 4–1 in matches.
2023: Växjö–Skellefteå 4–1.
2022: Färjestad–Luleå 4–3.
2021: Växjö–Rögle 4–1.
2020: The playoffs were cancelled due to covid-19.
2019: Frölunda–Djurgården 4–2.
