Tablettan Frölunda won 3–1 at Brynäs and Rögle went home to Ängelholm after a 2–1 win against Färjestad in Karlstad.
Luleå were most impressive, with their short tour south giving them their second straight victory after a tough period of four games without a three-pointer.
The champions on the move
A 3-1 against Växjö on Thursday was followed up with 6-4 at the stoppage in Malmö. The reigning Swedish champions are at it again.
Malmö is one of the best-formed teams in the series, but what did it help when Luleå went full speed and had a 3-0 (Erik Gustafsson, Ben Tardif and Frederic Allard) first 20 minutes.
When Pontus Andreasson made it 4–0, it was almost a game-over atmosphere, but only just.
"We're having one of our best first periods this season. Top ten in the second half is also good, but then we go downhill," Andreasson tells TV4 Play.
Malmö's Fredrik Händemark:
We were completely outplayed, then we eat our way into the game, do what we have to do, don't back down and stand and watch.
Effective in powerplay
Malmö's two reductions (Carl Persson and Händemark) in games with numerical superiority gave the match new nerve.
When Anton Levtchi scored 5–2, Luleå looked to be heading for a sure victory. But when Malmö – seconds after the power play – immediately made contact again, things heated up again.
Playing with one more man on the ice is more or less a goal guarantee for Malmö. Axel Sundberg's 4–5 put Luleå to new tests.
A tenth goal fell – Brian O'Neill's 6–4 into an empty net.
"I'm really happy with how we responded (after four straight wins) in these away games. Really important. It'll be nice to celebrate Christmas and take it easy," O'Neill told TV4 Play.
Four games will be played tonight. Then the SHL will take a short break.
The next round will be played on Boxing Day.
