IK Oskarshamn
4–1
Östersunds IK

IK won 4–1. It was deserved and comfortable, but also one of the sleepier games IK have played so far. Östersund created almost nothing for long stretches, and IK did not need to play particularly well to be clearly superior.

Joel Svensson broke the deadlock with individual skill and once again showed why he has been one of IK's strongest players game after game. Ludvig Markman then made it 2–0 in unusual fashion: straight out of the penalty box, onto an Axel Björnqvist pass, through on goal and finishing with a slap shot.

Calle Karlsson created chance after chance without getting his goal. Axel Nyman was never given a serious test, but handled what came his way well. Theodor Hallquisth did not look out of place after being thrown straight into the defence, while the thin fourth line at least avoided becoming the problem it looked capable of becoming before puck drop.

The score should not fool anyone. Against an Östersund side offering this little threat, IK's speed, technique and individual skill go a long way. To win regularly away against Leksand, MoDo, AIK and the stronger sides, IK still need another line capable of taking responsibility for games at five-on-five: establishing possession, creating territorial control and making the team good even when speed and individual technique are not enough.

That is why our previous shopping list was never mainly about buying power-play points. IK need to broaden their ability to dominate at five-on-five and give Joel, Manuel Ågren, Filiph Engsund, the youngsters and the attacking players better conditions.

And then there was the crowd. 2,203 tickets sold on a Friday night is weak, and the actual number of people in the building looked clearly lower than the announced figure. We have criticised the club's ambition and thin roster. The same standard has to work the other way: if Oskarshamn wants a team that invests, Oskarshamn also has to show up when the team plays.

There is further concern before Södertälje. Ludvig Östman left the game and Ville Jonsson received five minutes plus a game misconduct. Any suspension needs to be confirmed before we state it as fact, but an already thin roster could become thinner still.

IK took three points. The youngsters are good. There is plenty of speed and technique in this team. That is exactly why it would be a shame not to try to make something more of it.