The Jönköping team was whipped to win to keep the dream of secured SHL play next season alive.
They started briskly, but five minutes in came the cold shower. Patrik Karlkvist scored the leading goal for Örebro in powerplay – and just before the break it was 0–2.
The deficit would become larger in the second period when Örebro extended again in powerplay.
"Extremely disappointed"
0–3 and in the middle of the third period it was clear that HV71 would have to play qualifying games for the second year in a row.
This because rivals Linköping had secured three points away against Timrå.
It's not good enough today. I think we take a huge step back from last time, extremely disappointed that we can't maintain the consistent play we showed last time, says Anton Blomqvist.
"Don't point fingers"
In the final stages of the match, HV71 could make two consolation goals of academic interest. The match ended 2–3 and boos, whistles, and bitter faces were seen in the stands at Husqvarna Gardens.
From the outside, everything is crap and a failure that we have to play qualifying games, so I think there might be something in landing mentally. Being able to focus on certain things and create an advantage, says Blomqvist.
We need more people who pull and sit together more as a group. Really work together and don't point fingers at each other. We'll go through a tough time after a tough season, but together we can make something good out of this and make sure we finish on the right side, he continues.
Modo with heavy win
Last year, the Jönköping team won the negative qualifying game against Oskarshamn and got to play on in the top league.
Which team they will face in this year's qualifying games remains to be seen, as Modo took three heavy points away against Luleå (3–2). With this, Örnsköldsvik's team and Linköping are the ones most in the danger zone with 60 and 64 points respectively, with two rounds remaining.
Malmö has 66 points and is not theoretically safe, but only needs one point to secure the contract.
