Färjestad now has six straight losses in the SHL and is down to tenth place after a turbulent week.
Last Friday, coach and club icon Jörgen Jönsson was fired, just six months into a four-year contract.
Assistant coach Christer Olsson was to take over - and started with a loss on Saturday against a Djurgården that had not won since November.
On Monday, the surprising news came that former Rögle coach Cam Abbott will take over for the rest of the season, on loan from the NHL club Carolina Hurricanes organization, where he was recently hired as coach of the farm team Chicago Wolves.
“Bad of us”
But that change didn't have a quick and positive effect either. Färjestad started well and took the lead - but conceded five goals in the second period as the second-placed team HV71 stormed to a 5–2 lead.
"We had a solid start to the game, but in the second period we were penalized for mistakes around our own goal. I like our push in the third period, so there are positives to take away," said Cam Abbott.
Among the goal scorers were two players named Hugo. Defender Hugo Fransson scored his ninth goal of the season and power-play specialist Hugo Pettersson his eighth.
“Stop threatening”
HV71 is, just like Färjestad, in a crisis situation where the organization is shaking. Both the regular sports director Björn Liljander and his replacement Fredrik Stillman are on sick leave due to symptoms of exhaustion. The news about Stillman came on Wednesday and, according to HV71, threats and hatred have been reported to the police.
The HV supporters showed their support with a banner: "Stop threatening our own. Krya Stille".
HV's victory was only the second in the last seven games. The team remains second in the league, three points ahead of Linköping, just above the qualifying line.
