It was the third time lucky for Luleå.
After two straight quarterfinal exits against Växjö, the second-seeded team managed to draw the longest straw this time.
Moreover, after turning a 0-2 deficit into a win.
Pontus Andreasson scored the winning goal after 3.30 of overtime.
"Fresh and alert"
The 26-year-old Bohuslän native from Munkedal scored his sixth goal in the playoffs and tops the goal-scoring list.
The regular season was very up and down, but now in the playoffs, I feel like I've found my way back a bit. I feel fresh and alert, the pucks are going in, which is great for my confidence, says the 26-year-old who hasn't been in such hot goal-scoring form since Luleå reached the SM final in 2022.
Both matches in Växjö earlier in the week went to overtime, but since Luleå won the last one - thanks to Andreasson's winning goal - the Norrbotten team led 3-1 in matches and could secure the semifinal ticket at home.
However, it started badly.
Big Växjö dominance
Växjö dominated heavily in the first period and worked their way up to a 2-0 lead.
Both Marcus Sylvegård and Martin Lundberg deflected Keegan Lowe's shot into the net.
In the second period, Luleå woke up and took over completely.
Mathias Bromé scored on Växjö's goal and deflected the reduction, and comeback kid Anton Levtchi, back after illness, made it 2-2.
Besides that, the home team had two posts hit.
Really bad first period, so it was nice that we came back in the second, says Bromé.
The third period was goalless before Pontus Andreasson stepped forward.
Luleå is the first team to reach the semifinals and will wait for their opponent. The semifinal series starts on April 4 and 5.
Luleå also has spark capital since Linus Omark has been missing in the quarterfinal series due to injury. However, he has started training again.
Växjö coach Jörgen Jönsson was disappointed afterwards, but acknowledged his team was defeated:
There's no question, if you lose 1-4, it speaks for itself. It's sour and it's not what you wish for.
Jörgen Jönsson led Växjö to SM gold in 2023, but after three seasons, his contract expires. He is rumored to take over Färjestad next season and was asked on TV4 if he wanted to comment on his future:
No, I don't think I'll do that, it will come in due time.
