# 2013–14 SHL season

The 2013–14 SHL season was the 39th season of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The regular season began on 14 September 2013 and ended on 8 March 2014. The following playoffs began on 15 March 2014 and ended on 21 April 2014. It was the first season since the league changed name from Elitserien to Swedish Hockey League in June 2013.
Skellefteå AIK defended their 2013 Swedish Championship title by defeating Färjestad BK four games to zero in the Finals. Skellefteå AIK became the first team to defend the Swedish Championship title since Djurgårdens IF did so with their consecutive Swedish Championship titles in 2000 and 2001. Skellefteå AIK also became the first team since Brynäs IF in 1976–77 to win consecutive Swedish Championships by not losing a single game in both Finals series.
A number of format changes were introduced this season. Instead of the top eight teams in the regular season qualifying for the playoffs and the teams ranked 9–10 ending their season, the top six teams qualified for the playoffs directly, and the four teams ranked 7–10 played a best-of-three series and battled for the two remaining playoff spots. The two teams ranked 11–12 still had to play in the Kvalserien round-robin tournament in order to requalify for the SHL. Also, the top three teams no longer got to pick their opponents in the quarterfinals; instead, the first-ranked team faced the lowest-ranked winner of the two best-of-three series, the second-ranked team faced the other winner of the two best-of-three-series, the third-ranked team faced the sixth-ranked team, and the fourth-ranked team faced the fifth-ranked team.
In Kvalserien, Örebro HK requalified and Djurgårdens IF qualified for the 2014–15 SHL season at the expense of AIK.

## Participating teams

| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
| AIK | Stockholm | Hovet | 8,094 |
| Brynäs IF | Gävle | Läkerol Arena | 8,585 |
| Frölunda HC | Gothenburg | Scandinavium | 12,044 |
| Färjestad BK | Karlstad | Löfbergs Arena | 8,647 |
| HV71 | Jönköping | Kinnarps Arena | 7,000 |
| Leksands IF | Leksand | Tegera Arena | 7,650 |
| Linköpings HC | Linköping | Cloetta Center | 8,500 |
| Luleå HF | Luleå | Coop Norrbotten Arena | 6,300 |
| Modo Hockey | Örnsköldsvik | Fjällräven Center | 7,600 |
| Skellefteå AIK | Skellefteå | Skellefteå Kraft Arena | 6,001 |
| Växjö Lakers | Växjö | Vida Arena | 5,700 |
| Örebro HK | Örebro | Behrn Arena | 5,200 |

## League changes

Similar to the system in the Finnish Liiga, only the top six teams qualified directly for the playoffs. The four teams ranked 7–10 played a best-of-three series, known as Play In, in order to qualify for the playoffs. The seventh-ranked team faced the tenth-ranked team and the eighth-ranked team faced the ninth-ranked team, with the better-ranked teams receiving home advantage in two games if necessary to determine a winner of the series. The winners of these two best-of-three series took the two remaining playoff spots. The teams ranked 11–12 were still forced to play in the Kvalserien in order to requalify for the next season of the SHL.
From this season, the ability for the top three teams to pick their opponents in the quarterfinals was dropped; instead, the first-ranked team faced the lowest-ranked winner of the two best-of-three series, the second-ranked team faced the other winner of the two best-of-three series, the third-ranked team faced the sixth-ranked team, and the fourth-ranked team faced the fifth-ranked team.

## Summary

This season's outdoor game was played on December 14, 2013, between Frölunda HC and Skellefteå AIK at Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg. The game was won by Skellefteå 4–1 in front of 13,452 spectators. It was the second SHL outdoor game to be hosted in Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city, as well as the second SHL outdoor game featuring Frölunda HC.
On February 8, 2014, Leksands IF defenceman Patrik Hersley scored his 22nd goal of the season. With this, he broke the previous record for the number of goals by a defenceman in an SHL regular season, set by Jan Huokko in the 1998–99 season with 21 goals. Hersley added another two goals to finish the regular season with 24 goals. He was awarded the Salming Trophy, as the SHL's best defenceman, for his performance.
Linköpings HC forward Pär Arlbrandt finished the season with 71 points, becoming the third player in league history (after Håkan Loob and Bud Holloway) to score 70 points in a regular season.

## Regular season
### Standings

Updated as of March 8, 2014.
| 2013–14 SHL season | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Skellefteå AIK$^y$ | 55 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 179 | 121 | +58 | 111 |
| Frölunda HC$^x$ | 55 | 29 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 153 | 123 | +30 | 102 |
| Växjö Lakers$^x$ | 55 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 156 | 130 | +26 | 94 |
| Brynäs IF$^x$ | 55 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 163 | 152 | +11 | 85 |
| Färjestad BK$^x$ | 55 | 21 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 143 | 134 | +9 | 85 |
| Luleå HF$^x$ | 55 | 22 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 136 | 115 | +21 | 84 |
| | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | –1000 | 06.1 |
| Leksands IF$^p$ | 55 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 118 | 155 | –37 | 83 |
| Modo Hockey$^p$ | 55 | 18 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 131 | 132 | –1 | 81 |
| Linköpings HC$^p$ | 55 | 20 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 174 | 167 | +7 | 78 |
| HV71$^p$ | 55 | 17 | 27 | 9 | 2 | 146 | 182 | –36 | 71 |
| | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -–1000 | |
| Örebro HK$^r$ | 55 | 13 | 25 | 5 | 12 | 119 | 160 | –41 | 61 |
| AIK$^r$ | 55 | 12 | 30 | 6 | 7 | 124 | 171 | –47 | 55 |
* v
* t
* e
x – clinched playoff spot; y – clinched regular season league title; p – qualified for Play In; r – play in relegation series

### Statistics
#### Scoring leaders

List shows the ten best skaters based on the number of points during the regular season. If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown. Updated as of the end of the regular season. GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
| Arlbrandt, Pär Pär Arlbrandt | Linköpings HC | 53 | 26 | 45 | 71 | +5 | 66 |
| Lindström, Joakim Joakim Lindström | Skellefteå AIK | 55 | 23 | 40 | 63 | +15 | 72 |
| Klasen, Linus Linus Klasen | Luleå HF | 54 | 28 | 29 | 57 | +13 | 45 |
| Hjalmarsson, Simon Simon Hjalmarsson | Linköpings HC | 55 | 27 | 30 | 57 | 0 | 87 |
| Kolarik, Chad Chad Kolarik | Linköpings HC | 53 | 30 | 18 | 48 | 0 | 64 |
| Möller, Oscar Oscar Möller | Skellefteå AIK | 48 | 27 | 18 | 45 | +13 | 14 |
| Hillding, Joakim Joakim Hillding | Färjestad BK | 55 | 18 | 23 | 41 | +7 | 22 |
| Gunderson, Ryan Ryan Gunderson | Brynäs IF | 54 | 8 | 33 | 41 | +13 | 14 |
| Arvidsson, Viktor Viktor Arvidsson | Skellefteå AIK | 50 | 16 | 24 | 40 | +4 | 59 |
| Rasmussen, Dennis Dennis Rasmussen | Växjö Lakers | 52 | 16 | 24 | 40 | +6 | 20 |

#### Leading goaltenders

These are the leaders in GAA among goaltenders who played at least 40% of the team's minutes. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded. Updated as of the end of the regular season.
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | GA | SO | Sv% | GAA |
| Rautio, David David Rautio | Luleå HF | 34 | 2019:02 | 60 | 4 | .922 | 1.78 |
| Fernström, Linus Linus Fernström | Frölunda HC | 32 | 1765:33 | 60 | 2 | .916 | 2.04 |
| Johansson, Lars Lars Johansson | Frölunda HC | 28 | 1533:01 | 52 | 1 | .912 | 2.04 |
| Svensson, Markus Markus Svensson | Skellefteå AIK | 34 | 1904:41 | 65 | 5 | .919 | 2.05 |
| Munroe, Scott Scott Munroe | Växjö Lakers | 36 | 2107:37 | 72 | 3 | .913 | 2.05 |
| Pettersson-Wentzel, Fredrik Fredrik Pettersson-Wentzel | Färjestad BK | 37 | 2217:47 | 76 | 5 | .926 | 2.06 |
| Ullmark, Linus Linus Ullmark | Modo Hockey | 35 | 2043:30 | 71 | 3 | .931 | 2.08 |
| Alsenfelt, Oscar Oscar Alsenfelt | Leksands IF | 46 | 2707:24 | 106 | 4 | .928 | 2.35 |
| Larsson, Daniel Daniel Larsson | AIK | 45 | 2604:10 | 114 | 0 | .917 | 2.63 |
| Sandberg, Tim Tim Sandberg | Örebro HK | 38 | 2256:11 | 99 | 1 | .899 | 2.63 |

## Playoffs

This season, only the top six teams qualified directly for the playoffs. The four teams ranked 7–10 played a best-of-three series and battled for the two remaining playoff spots. Also, the top three teams no longer got to pick their opponents in the quarterfinals.

### Play In

The teams ranked 7 and 10, and the teams ranked 8 and 9, respectively, faced each other in a best-of-three series in order to qualify for the playoffs. The better-ranked teams in the two series received home advantage, i.e. two home games, if necessary to determine a winner of the series. The two winners, HV71 and Linköpings HC, took the two remaining playoff spots.

#### (7) Leksands IF vs. (10) HV71

* HV71 won series 2–1

#### (8) Modo Hockey vs. (9) Linköpings HC

* Linköpings HC won series 2–0

### Playoff bracket

In the first round, the top-ranked team faced the lowest-ranked winner of the two best-of-three series, the second-ranked team faced the other winner of the two best-of-three series, the third-ranked team faced the sixth-ranked team, and the fourth-ranked team faced the fifth-ranked team. In the second round, the highest remaining seed was matched against the lowest remaining seed. In each round the higher-seeded team was awarded home advantage. Each series was a best-of-seven series that followed an alternating home team format: the higher-seeded team played at home for games 1 and 3 (plus 5 and 7 if necessary), and the lower-seeded team was at home for games 2 and 4 (plus 6 if necessary).
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Skellefteå AIK | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | HV71 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | HV71 | 1 | | | 1 | Skellefteå AIK | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | 9 | Linköpings HC | 1 | | | |
| 2 | Frölunda HC | 3 | | | 9 | Linköpings HC | 1 | | | |
| 9 | Linköpings HC | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Linköpings HC | 4 | | | | | | 1 | Skellefteå AIK | 4 |
| (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | 1 | Skellefteå AIK | 4 |
| (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | (Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | 5 | Färjestad BK | 0 |
| 3 | Växjö Lakers | 4 | | | | | | | | | 5 | Färjestad BK | 0 |
| 6 | Luleå HF | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Luleå HF | 2 | | | 3 | Växjö Lakers | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Färjestad BK | 4 | | | |
| 4 | Brynäs IF | 1 | | | 5 | Färjestad BK | 4 | | | |
| 5 | Färjestad BK | 4 | | | | | | | | |

### Quarterfinals
#### (1) Skellefteå AIK vs. (10) HV71

* Skellefteå AIK won series 4–1

#### (2) Frölunda HC vs. (9) Linköpings HC

* Linköpings HC won series 4–3

#### (3) Växjö Lakers vs. (6) Luleå HF

* Växjö Lakers won series 4–2

#### (4) Brynäs IF vs. (5) Färjestad BK

* Färjestad BK won series 4–1

### Semifinals
#### (1) Skellefteå AIK vs. (9) Linköpings HC

* Skellefteå AIK won series 4–1

#### (3) Växjö Lakers vs. (5) Färjestad BK

* Färjestad BK won series 4–2

### Finals: (1) Skellefteå AIK vs. (5) Färjestad BK

Skellefteå AIK made their fourth consecutive appearance in the Finals, following Finals appearances in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Färjestad BK reached the Finals for the first time since 2011, and became the first team seeded lower than fourth in the regular season to reach the Finals since sixth-seeded Modo Hockey made it to the Finals in 2000.
Skellefteå AIK swept Färjestad BK four games to zero and secured their third Swedish Championship title in club history, following titles in 1978 and 2013, the year before. Skellefteå AIK became the first team to defend the Swedish Championship title since Djurgårdens IF did so with their consecutive Swedish Championship titles in 2000 and 2001. Skellefteå AIK also became the first team since Brynäs IF in 1976–77 to win consecutive Swedish Championships by not losing a single game in both Finals series. Their 8–1 crush in game three marked the biggest goal margin (7 goals) in a single Finals game in SHL history. Over the four games, Skellefteå racked up the goal differential 20–3.
* Skellefteå AIK won series 4–0

### Statistics
#### Scoring leaders

List shows the ten best skaters based on the number of points during the playoffs. If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown. Updated as of the end of the playoffs. GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
| Lindström, Joakim Joakim Lindström | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 6 | 12 | 18 | +11 | 10 |
| Möller, Oscar Oscar Möller | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 5 | 13 | 18 | +10 | 2 |
| Arvidsson, Viktor Viktor Arvidsson | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 4 | 12 | 16 | +5 | 4 |
| Ericsson, Jimmie Jimmie Ericsson | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 12 |
| Bellemare, Pierre-Edouard Pierre-Édouard Bellemare | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 9 | 5 | 14 | +4 | 6 |
| Karlsson, Melker Melker Karlsson | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 4 | 8 | 12 | +9 | 12 |
| Johansson, Alexander Alexander Johansson | Växjö Lakers | 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 | +5 | 14 |
| Rakhshani, Rhett Rhett Rakhshani | Växjö Lakers | 12 | 3 | 6 | 9 | +1 | 12 |
| Holloway, Bud Bud Holloway | Skellefteå AIK | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| Rosen, Robert Robert Rosén | Växjö Lakers | 12 | 6 | 1 | 7 | +4 | 2 |

#### Leading goaltenders

These are the leaders in GAA and save percentage among goaltenders who played more than 40% of the team's minutes. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded. Updated as of the end of the season.
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | GA | SO | Sv% | GAA |
| Svensson, Markus Markus Svensson | Skellefteå AIK | 14 | 870:37 | 20 | 3 | .943 | 1.38 |
| Lassila, Teemu Teemu Lassila | Växjö Lakers | 12 | 715:51 | 20 | 3 | .929 | 1.68 |
| Owuya, Mark Mark Owuya | Luleå HF | 3 | 174:04 | 6 | 0 | .891 | 2.07 |
| Starkbaum, Bernhard Bernhard Starkbaum | Brynäs IF | 5 | 303:44 | 11 | 1 | .936 | 2.17 |
| Johansson, Lars Lars Johansson | Frölunda HC | 5 | 305:39 | 12 | 0 | .904 | 2.36 |
| Pettersson-Wentzel, Fredrik Fredrik Pettersson-Wentzel | Färjestad BK | 15 | 876:06 | 36 | 0 | .921 | 2.47 |
| Högberg, Marcus Marcus Högberg | Linköpings HC | 9 | 488:10 | 25 | 1 | .908 | 3.07 |

## SHL awards

* Guldhjälmen: Joakim Lindström, Skellefteå AIK
* Guldpucken: Joakim Lindström, Skellefteå AIK
* Honken Trophy: Linus Ullmark, Modo Hockey
* Håkan Loob Trophy: Chad Kolarik, Linköpings HC
* Rookie of the Year: Andreas Johnson, Frölunda HC
* Salming Trophy: Patrik Hersley, Leksands IF
* Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy: Joakim Lindström, Skellefteå AIK
* Guldpipan: Mikael Nord