HV71 — Skellefteå AIK: 4:3, SHL

HV71 claimed a 4-3 victory over Skellefteå in their SHL opener on 24 September 2026. The hosts took all three points despite sitting 12th in the standings, while the visitors had started the season in third place. Both sides carry zero points after one game in the current campaign.

HV71 have been inconsistent in recent friendlies. They lost 4-5 to Malmö Redhawks on 19 September, but beforehand had beaten Djurgården 4-3 and Malmö again 3-2. The run included two defeats — 0-3 against Örebro and 2-3 to Rögle — suggesting a side still finding its rhythm.

Skellefteå looked sharper in their pre-season fixtures. A 7-2 thrashing of Brynäs on 19 September followed victories over Davos 6-2, Servette 3-2, Mannheim 3-1 and Nitra 6-1. Those results built expectations going into this encounter.

And here's the thing — the final score tells only half the story. HV71 held their nerve to edge past a team that had dominated their recent matches. The visitors extended their unbeaten run in friendlies, but the league standings tell a different picture entirely.

By then, the table had shifted slightly in HV71's favour. They sit 12th with one game played, while Skellefteå remain third. The gap between them is more about position than points — both sides have zero on the board after this opening round.