Bollnäs needed a point in the last round of the elite series to maintain sixth place in the table. And despite being 0-3 down at halftime against the superior series winner Villa Lidköping, they managed to fix it.
Through, among other things, two goals by Rasmus Skarps, the Hälsinglanders took the match to 5-5, when Villa Lidköping was awarded a penalty with ten minutes left to play. Erik Persson seemed to be the hero when he saved Christoffer Edlund's penalty – but the Villa star got to retake it after the referees deemed that Persson had moved too early. And on the next chance, Edlund did not miss, scoring 6-5 and the win for the away team.
When Hammarby simultaneously thrashed Åby/Tjureda 10-1, the Stockholmers passed Bollnäs in the table to the important sixth place and thus a direct spot in the quarterfinal – where Vetlanda awaits.
Bollnäs will instead take the route through the eighth final, where they will meet Sandviken. The winner there will face table runner-up Edsbyn. In the other eighth final, Gripen will face Broberg/Söderhamn to see which team will get to take on Villa Lidköping in the quarterfinal.
Eighth final 1: Bollnäs–Sandviken
Eighth final 2: Gripen–Broberg/Söderhamn
Quarterfinal 1: Villa Lidköping–winner of eighth final 2.
Quarterfinal 2: Sirius–Västerås.
Quarterfinal 3: Edsbyn–winner of eighth final 1.
Quarterfinal 4: Vetlanda–Hammarby.
Semifinal 1: Winner of quarter 1–winner of quarter 2.
Semifinal 2: Winner of quarter 3–winner of quarter 4.
The final will be played on Saturday, March 15.
