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The Big Build Up
On Friday next Malmö play host to second placed team Skellefteå AIK in what is one of the most important games of the Allsvenskan regular season. The top two teams are comfortably ahead of the rest of the teams so this one is all about the gaining an advantage in the race to be Allsvenskan champions. Malmö will be looking for revenge for the 5-3 defeat up north earlier in the season. Skellefteå will be looking to put behind them an 11-2 defeat on there last visit to Malmö a year ago. On paper Skellefteå need a victory much more than the Redhawks, behind in the league having played two more games puts most of the pressure on their shoulders
Malmö, just back from a road trip, had rest days on Monday and Tuesday but were back in training today. With sessions planned for Thursday as well the team should be well prepared for Friday evening. Motivation should not be a problem, Malmö need to let Skellefteå know who is in charge of this league. Carl Söderberg said of the last match "We played badly through the whole game, not just in the third period even though that's where we conceded the goals. We were too passive in our play and always on the back foot in the second and it was Corey who kept us in it. We should give them a much better game on home ice."
Vice captain, Johan Norgren, is also looking forward the match. In a radio interview earlier this week he said "the team are really focussed on revenge for the last time". When asked about the game against Björklöven on Sunday he replied "one game at a time"
"Jon" Coleman |
André Savage. |
Malmö defenseman Jonathan Coleman back after a knee injury says "its good to be back, even if I have a way to go yet to get back to full match fitness". There needs to be an improvement in what he calls "the wind".
Malmös club director Thomas Stenberg says "it feels inspiritational to be involved in a top match. I think its going to be an even, tough encounter. We still have a long way to go before our first target of the season, qualifying for the Kvalserien, so maybe this is a preparation for that. We are hoping for a big support from the stands. A top match against Skellefteå with some well known hockey names including Magnus Wernblom and a previous Malmö goalkeeper Andreas Hadelöv should bring out the crowds"
There has been a big demand for tickets but some still remain. You can get further details on the ticket page.
HOW DOES THE ALLSVENSKAN WORK
For those who do not know this is a brief explanation of how the league works. Malmö play in the Allsvenskan which is the league below Swedens top division the Elitserien. There are a total of fifteen teams in the Allsvenskan and each team play a total of forty two games. At the end of the forty two matches the top four teams qualify for the Kvalserien. In the Kvalserien (qualification league) they will meet the two bottom teams in the Elitserien. The six teams will play each other twice and the top two teams in the Kvalserien will play in the Elitserien next season. All Malmö fans will of course be expecting/hoping one of those teams to be the Redhawks, back where they belong.
Text: John Noonan
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