Linkoping were in freefall before the international window, losing seven matches in a row to send them bottom of the pile, but they seem to have made full use of the break, judging by their 6-1 thrashing of Leksand.
It took just under five minutes for them to break the deadlock through Robin Kovacs, before Fredrik Karlstrom sent them into the first break two goals to the good. The home side were in unfamiliar recent territory nine minutes into the second period when Jonathan Myrenberg scored their third.
Andro Kaderli got Leksand on the board with just over three minutes of the second to play, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the third when Nick Shore scored shorthanded, before Kovacs added his second of the game.
Marcus Ljungh completed the rout with seconds to go, taking Linkoping off the bottom of the table and only one point and place behind Leksand, whose inconsistent form continues.
HV 71 have replaced Linkoping at the foot of the standings despite also picking up three points tonight, beating Vaxjo 5-4 at home.
A goal from Leo Sahlin Wallenius in the second period closed the gap after Mattias Tedenby and Joona Luota had put the hosts 2-0 up after 20 minutes, before a frantic final period which began with the Lakers turning the match around through Brogan Rafferty and Reid Gardiner on powerplays.
But back came the Jonkoping side, who scored three unanswered goals courtesy of Jonathan Ang, Riley Woods and an empty-netter from Lukas Rousek to go 5-3 ahead, then Karl Henriksson responded with a consolation for Vaxjo, who remain fifth in the standings despite one win in four.
At the top of the table, Frolunda's lead is still two points as they did enough to hold off a late fightback from Orebro and win 3-2, and second-placed Rogle returned to winning ways, as despite trailing early to Farjestad, they cruised to a 5-1 victory on home ice.
The gap between the top three and the rest is now four points after Strauss Mann made 28 saves to record a third shutout in five matches as Skelleftea beat Timra 5-0, while Djurgarden fell to an overtime loss to Lulea - 3-2 - but stay in fourth place as the three teams below them were all beaten.
Finally, Malmo continued their push back up the table, beating Brynas 4-3 away from home for a third consecutive win to go eighth, as Brynas slip out of the the Playoff places for now.
Review all tonight's SHL action and much more on Flashscore.