The rock is rolling!

With two games remaining of the 2010 edition of Kvalserien, the outcome is - as predicted - unpredictable to say the least. Södertälje SK somewhat unsurprisingly leads the way with 19 points and will require one more to secure their participation in next year's Elitserien. They are hosting AIK (4th) tomorrow and on Sunday there will be the show-down with Rögle BK (2nd). The game with AIK is a derby-type affair and the outcome is by no means certain. If they would lose, the one point they require will be hard fought to get at the final away game. They should qualify, but in KS, there is a long history of teams choking when one foot is on the finishing line.

Rögle finds themselves in second place on 14 points with Almtuna (5th) to visit tomorrow before taking on Södertälje. Again, none of these teams are easy to play. Almtuna IS has rattled most teams and are notoriously difficult to play in their rink, and with Rögle only just beating AIS on penalties in the previous game, they will not be taking any points for granted. Two wins are of course possible, but they might as well not get any.

Leksands IF is just one point behind in 3rd place and is said to have the easiest run-in. On paper this is true as they are facing bottom of the table Växjö Lakers away on Tursday and finishes with a visit by Almtuna. Växjö has only managed to get three points, all of them did however come while playing in their Lakerdome home and the hosts won both home games 3-1 during the regular season, so to say these are three easy points would be a mistake. Almtuna on the other hand has been defeated every time this season in Ejendals Arena, albeit the affairs have been tightly fought. Underestimation would however be the biggest risk and you would expect Leksand to bring home at least four points from these games.

AIK equals Leksand's 13 points but is behind by a single goal on goal difference and is in 4th position. If the team can get a win from the derby against top of the table Södertälje, the final game will be at home against Växjö, who might be without their three North American players due to a money saving excercise by the club (they will however feature in the previous game versus Leksand). This might have a decisive influence if the final table is decided on goal difference. The big one is however played tomorrow, and both teams will know the result of this game will decide how their seasons are judged, not to mention the SEK 30.000.000 in money from TV rights and another SEK 20.000.000 in extra ticket sales, sponsorship etc. In short, No Pressure!