Oscar Lindberg and Viktor Grahn scored either side of a Bobby Trivigno equaliser to put Skelleftea 2-1 up after the first period, but after Kieffer Bellows' leveller early in period two, the champions took things up a gear - Victor Stjernborg scored shorthanded before three goals in the final five minutes from Rickard Hugg, Hudson Fasching and Mikkel Aagaard had SAIK 6-2 up after 40 minutes. Oskar Vuollet made it 7-2 in the final period as Skelleftea put down a marker in round one.
Top of the pile after one match are Farjestad, who also scored seven but did so without reply, as Emil Larmi made 26 saves to complete an opening-night shutout in the 7-0 win over Orebro. Per Aslund had the home side 4-0 up before the end of the first period, as Axel Bergkvist and Viktor Lodin grabbed a goal and two assists each, while Filip Roos also registered three points with a trio of assists.
After 25 years away from the top tier of Swedish hockey, 1987 Le Mat Trophy winners IF Bjorkloven made a winning return by winning 3-0 away at Djurgarden. Phil Di Giuseppe put them ahead with seconds left in the first period, before Robin Kovacs and Oscar Tellstrom ensured it was one goal per period for the newcomers from Umea, as Lassi Lehtinen made 24 saves to keep DIF at bay.
Lauri Pajuniemi scored in the third minute of overtime to hand Malmo Redhawks a 5-4 win at HV 71, having been 3-0 down; Frolunda also won 5-4 but within 60 minutes as Henrik Tommernes and Patrik Puistola scored late to turn the match around against Vaxjo. Last season's runners-up Rogle threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 on the road at Lulea, while Linkoping scored the final two goals of the game to earn a 3-2 victory at home to Timra.
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