The loss was the team's fifth straight in SHL and on Tuesday, they also suffered a real thrashing in CHL.
We're hiding our heads under our arms, can't handle the frustration, says Skellefteå's team captain Jonathan Pudas.
This week, coach Robert Ohlsson was fired after saying he "doesn't care about the fans" and now the team is playing without confidence and with a terrible defense.
The turmoil is great in the team that won the SM gold last spring.
The first period against Malmö was one of the most intense seen in SHL this season. Skellefteå went on a fierce attack from the first face-off – but after 44 seconds, they had conceded two goals.
"Really tough"
Before the opening period was over, the score had been added to four more times and it was 3–3 on the scoreboard.
Of course, it's really tough to concede two goals right away. We're bad in front of our own goalie and make really bad passes, says new head coach Pierre Johnsson.
Malmö was actually deserving of leading after the first period. They showed that in the middle period, which they won 3–0.
Malmö played well. Skellefteå's defense was non-existent.
Malmö's team captain Fredrik Händemark, who scored two goals and two assists on this successful evening in Skellefteå, was naturally pleased that his team had taken their second straight three-pointer and their first of the season on the road.
Nice that we're getting some reward, it's just taken a little too long. Now we'll continue this against Rögle on Saturday. It'll be a fun match, says Händemark.
"Clutching my fist in my pocket"
His team captain colleague in Skellefteå was, for understandable reasons, a bit more worried after yet another loss.
Of course, it's tough. It's about us standing strong, working on, clutching my fist in my pocket and fighting on. There's no one else who's going to help us out of this, says Jonathan Pudas.
After Robert Ohlsson was fired, Skellefteå's new coaching trio, led by Pierre Johnsson, now has a tough task ahead of them. How can they bring back the winning game from last spring?
We're a puck-skilled team that wants to play with speed. That's what we need to do. And tighten up our defense too. We're giving away way too many chances in the hot zone. We need to get rid of that, says Johnsson.
