2012–13 Elitserien season#Short-term contracts

{{Location map+|Sweden|width=275|places=

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=59.295|long=18.081944|label=AIK|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=60.691111|long=17.1325|label=Brynäs|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=57.699167|long=11.987778|label=Frölunda|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=59.4075|long=13.500556|label=Färjestad|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=57.787222|long=14.232222|label=HV71|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=58.4175|long=15.635278|label=Linköping|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=65.597778|long=22.148611|label=Luleå|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=63.283889|long=18.725|label=Modo|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=56.2258|long=12.8449|label=Rögle|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=64.761389|long=20.967222|label=Skellefteå|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=62.505833|long=17.35|label=Timrå|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Sweden|lat=56.879585|long=14.773736|label=Växjö|position=bottom}}

|caption=Location of the participating clubs}}

• Note: Frölunda HC played their final three home games of the regular season in Frölundaborg, which had a smaller capacity of 7,600 spectators.

Short-term contracts and the possibility of signing players affected by the 2012–13 NHL lockout was a controversial issue for several months. The board of hockey operations for Elitserien (Hockeyligan) decided to continue rejecting short-term contracts (i.e. contracts not lasting for the entire season) on 23 August 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeyligan.se/artikel/24754/ |title=Svenska Hockeyligan enade i NHL-frågan |website=hockeyligan.se |language=sv |date=2012-08-23}} On 21 September 2012, the Swedish Competition Authority (SCA) examined the matter and responded with a ruling that allowed short-term contracts.{{cite web |url=http://www.konkurrensverket.se/t/Page____8430.aspx |title=Frågor och svar om Konkurrensverkets beslut om Svenska Hockeyligans möjligheter att utesluta NHL-spelare |publisher=Konkurrensverket |language=sv |date=2012-09-21}} Hockeyligan appealed the SCA ruling to the Market Court. On 18 December 2012, the Market Court ruled against the SCA and allowed Hockeyligan to forbid short-term contracts.{{cite web |url=http://aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/sverige/elitserien/article15951971.ab |title=Marknadsdomstolen ger Hockeyligan rätt |work=Aftonbladet |last=Karlsson |first=Erik |language=sv |date=2012-12-18 |access-date=2013-01-13}} The uncertainty and concerns of legal punishment caused a number of Elitserien clubs to refrain from signing short-term contracts and await the Market Court's decision. In the end, Cody Franson played 26 Elitserien games with Brynäs, Alexander Steen played 20 games with Modo, and Matt Duchene played 19 games and Viktor Stålberg 11 games with Frölunda before their short-term contracts expired.

For the fourth consecutive season, an outdoor game was played. As part of Brynäs IF celebrating their 100th year as a club, they hosted Timrå IK on December 8, 2012, in a temporary arena called Gävlebocken ("Gävle Goat") Arena. Brynäs won the game 3–0 in front of 15,009 spectators.{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeyligan.se/artikel/31434/ |title=Resultat: Brynäs gick segrande ur utematchen |publisher=Hockeyligan |author=Johan Wennerström |language=sv |date=2012-12-08}}{{cite web|url=http://www.timraik.se/artikel/31454/ |title=15004 såg Brynäs vinna med 3-0 |work=Timrå IK |author=Joachim Sandström |language=sv |date=2012-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226052021/http://www.timraik.se/artikel/31454/ |archive-date=2012-12-26 }}

The average attendance in Elitserien fell by 10.5% from 6,385 to 5,717 spectators per game, the lowest average since the 2002–03 season. The drop meant that Elitserien was fifth in average attendance among professional ice hockey leagues (fourth in Europe) – after the NHL, NLA, DEL and KHL.{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/7603.html |title=Swiss on top of Europe |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |date=2013-03-13 |access-date=2013-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316033057/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/7603.html |archive-date=2013-03-16 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeysverige.se/article/14204959/det-svenska-publikraset |title=Det svenska publikraset |work=Hockeysverige |language=sv |last=Bodin |first=Uffe |date=2013-03-13 |access-date=2013-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626001723/http://www.hockeysverige.se/article/14204959/det-svenska-publikraset |archive-date=2013-06-26 |url-status=dead }} In the 2011–12 season, Elitserien had the second highest average attendance among professional hockey leagues (first in Europe).{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/6508.html |title=SC Bern 10th time on top |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |date=2012-03-15 |access-date=2012-03-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318030341/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/6508.html |archive-date=March 18, 2012 }}

There were several reasons for the decline; Frölunda HC saw an 18.1% decrease to an average of 8,588 fans per game. The second most attended team last season, Djurgårdens IF, was relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan. Nine of the eleven returning teams from last season had lower attendance numbers, with Skellefteå AIK and Luleå HF being the only teams to increase their average attendance. HockeyAllsvenskan, on the other hand, improved its attendance average this season from 2,606 to 3,227 spectators per game, an improvement of 23.8% from the 2011–12 season.

{{2012–13 Elitserien standings}}

Updated as of the end of the regular season.{{cite web|url=http://estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LPlayersPoints.aspx?LId=250 |title=Statistik |publisher=Hockeyligan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731043611/http://estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LPlayersPoints.aspx?LId=250 |archive-date=2013-07-31 }}

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

These are the leaders in GAA among goaltenders who have played at least 40% of the team's minutes. Updated as of the end of the regular season.{{cite web|url=http://estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGoalkeepers.aspx?LId=250 |title=Statistik |publisher=Hockeyligan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517085918/http://estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGoalkeepers.aspx?LId=250 |archive-date=2013-05-17 }}

GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

In the first round, the highest remaining seed chose which of the four lowest remaining seeds to be matched against. In the second round, the highest remaining seed is matched against the lowest remaining seed. In each round the higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage. Each best-of-seven series follows an alternating home team format: the higher-seeded team will play at home for games 1 and 3 (plus 5 and 7 if necessary), and the lower-seeded team will be at home for game 2, 4 and 6 (if necessary).

{{8TeamBracket-Re-seeds

| RD1-seed1=1

| RD1-team1=Skellefteå AIK

| RD1-score1=4

| RD1-seed2=8

| RD1-team2=Brynäs IF

| RD1-score2=0

| RD1-seed3=2

| RD1-team3=Färjestad BK

| RD1-score3=4

| RD1-seed4=7

| RD1-team4=Modo Hockey

| RD1-score4=1

| RD1-seed5=3

| RD1-team5=Luleå HF

| RD1-score5=4

| RD1-seed6=6

| RD1-team6=Frölunda HC

| RD1-score6=2

| RD1-seed7=4

| RD1-team7=HV71

| RD1-score7=1

| RD1-seed8=5

| RD1-team8=Linköpings HC

| RD1-score8=4

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=Skellefteå AIK

| RD2-score1=4

| RD2-seed2=5

| RD2-team2=Linköpings HC

| RD2-score2=1

| RD2-seed3=2

| RD2-team3=Färjestad BK

| RD2-score3=1

| RD2-seed4=3

| RD2-team4=Luleå HF

| RD2-score4=4

| RD3-seed1=1

| RD3-team1=Skellefteå AIK

| RD3-score1=4

| RD3-seed2=3

| RD3-team2=Luleå HF

| RD3-score2=0

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Skellefteå AIK

|team2=Brynäs IF

|stadium1=Skellefteå Kraft Arena

|stadium2=Läkerol Arena

|date1=March 12

|score1=5–0

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38421

|won1=1

|1-1-1=No scoring

|1-2-1=Martin Ševc 1 - 17:00
Bud Holloway 1 - 17:59

|1-3-1=Petter Emanuelsson 1 - pp - 10:56
Petter Emanuelsson 2 - 12:15
Bud Holloway 2 - 14:12

|goalie1-1=Joacim Eriksson 14 saves / 14 shots

|goalie1-2=Johan Holmqvist 36 saves / 41 shots

|date2=March 14

|home2=2

|score2=3–7

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38422

|won2=1

|2-1-1=0:59 - Erik Forssell 1
18:58 - Pontus Petterström 1

|2-2-1=7:41 - pp - Niclas Burström 1
18:12 - pp - Bud Holloway 3

|2-3-1=5:56 - Joakim Lindström 1
13:36 - pp - Jimmie Ericsson 1
15:56 - en - Erik Forssell 2

|2-3-2=Ryan Gunderson 1 - 7:02
Sebastian Lauritzen 1 - pp - 12:15
Daniel Widing 1 - 14:30

|goalie2-1=Markus Svensson 31 saves / 34 shots

|goalie2-2=Johan Holmqvist 22 saves / 26 shots
Robin Rahm 4 saves / 7 shots

|date3=March 16

|home3=1

|score3=4–1

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38423

|won3=1

|3-1-1=No scoring

|3-2-1=Joakim Lindström 2 - pp - 15:20

|3-2-2=11:54 - Daniel Widing 2

|3-3-1=Erik Forssell 3 - 9:49
Oscar Möller 1 - 17:11
Melker Karlsson 1 - en - 18:53

|goalie3-1=Joacim Eriksson 21 saves / 22 shots

|goalie3-2=Johan Holmqvist 41 saves / 45 shots

|date4=March 18

|score4=0–4

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38424

|won4=1

|4-1-1=No scoring

|4-2-1=8:49 - pp - Viktor Arvidsson 1
10:33 - Oscar Lindberg 1

|4-3-1=2:21 - Viktor Arvidsson 2
16:11 - en - Oscar Möller 2

|goalie4-1=Markus Svensson 32 saves / 32 shots

|goalie4-2=Johan Holmqvist 29 saves / 33 shots

|series=Skellefteå AIK won series 4–0

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Färjestad BK

|team2=Modo Hockey

|stadium1=Löfbergs Lila Arena

|stadium2=Fjällräven Center

|date1=March 12

|score1=4–2

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38428

|won1=1

|1-1-1=Per Åslund 1 - 4:58

|1-1-2=8:31 - Niklas Sundström 1
10:04 - Marcel Mueller 1

|1-2-1=Chris Lee 1 - pp - 7:13

|1-3-1=Per Åslund 2 - pp - 2:33
Marius Holtet 1 - 10:06

|goalie1-1=Alexander Salák 24 saves / 26 shots

|goalie1-2=Bernhard Starkbaum 29 saves / 33 shots

|date2=March 14

|home2=2

|score2=3–5

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38429

|won2=1

|2-1-1=12:34 - Joakim Hillding 1

|2-1-2=Mattias Ritola 1 - 9:23

|2-2-1=9:36 - pp - Chris Lee 2
16:26 - Patrik Lundh 1

|2-2-2=Per-Åge Skrøder 1 - pp - 12:11
Niklas Sundström 2 - 15:08

|2-3-1=11:48 - Chris Lee 3
18:50 - en - Anders Bastiansen 1

|goalie2-1=Alexander Salák 26 saves / 29 shots

|goalie2-2=Bernhard Starkbaum 25 saves / 30 shots

|date3=March 16

|home3=1

|score3=2–1

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38431

|won3=1

|3-1-1=Rickard Wallin 1 - 5:19

|3-1-2=12:02 - pp - Per-Åge Skrøder 2

|3-2-1=Chris Lee 4 - 2:19

|goalie3-1=Alexander Salák 32 saves / 33 shots

|goalie3-2=Bernhard Starkbaum 27 saves / 29 shots

|date4=March 18

|score4=5–4

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38430

|won4=2

|ot4=1

|4-1-1=2:50 - Chris Lee 5
3:09 - Anders Bastiansen 2

|4-2-1=0:25 - pp - Marius Holtet 2

|4-2-2=Mattias Ritola 2 - 1:44
Kyle Cumiskey 1 - pp - 7:44

|4-3-1=8:41 - Marius Holtet 3

|4-3-2=Marcel Mueller 2 - pp - 9:44
Jonas Ahnelöv 1 - 16:20

|4-4-2=Ladislav Nagy 1 - 5:01

|goalie4-1=Alexander Salák 34 saves / 39 shots

|goalie4-2=Bernhard Starkbaum 0 saves / 2 shots
Linus Ullmark 25 saves / 27 shots

|date5=March 20

|score5=1–0

|recap5=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38432

|won5=1

|ot5=1

|5-1-1=No scoring

|5-4-1=Rickard Wallin 2 - 0:57

|goalie5-1=Alexander Salák 26 saves / 26 shots

|goalie5-2=Linus Ullmark 39 saves / 40 shots

|series=Färjestad BK won series 4–1

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Luleå HF

|team2=Frölunda HC

|stadium1=Coop Norrbotten Arena

|stadium2=Scandinavium

|date1=March 13

|score1=5–2

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38435

|won1=1

|1-1-1=Sami Sandell 1 - 0:31
Jan Sandström 1 - 12:51

|1-1-2=6:19 - Fredrik Eriksson 1

|1-2-1=Linus Persson 1 - 2:49
Linus Klasen 1 - 10:32

|1-2-2=11:07 - pp - Joel Lundqvist 1

|1-3-1=Joonas Vihko 1 en - 18:23

|goalie1-1=Johan Gustafsson 13 saves / 15 shots

|goalie1-2=Július Hudáček 26 saves / 31 shots

|date2=March 15

|home2=2

|score2=2–0

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38436

|won2=2

|2-1-1=No scoring

|2-1-2=Magnus Kahnberg 1 - pp - 10:44
Fabian Brunnström 1 - 11:07

|goalie2-1=Johan Gustafsson 19 saves / 21 shots

|goalie2-2=Július Hudáček 34 saves / 34 shots

|date3=March 17

|home3=1

|score3=3–1

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38437

|won3=1

|3-1-1=Karl Fabricius 1 - pp - 10:31
Daniel Gunnarsson 1 - pp - 19:20

|3-3-1=Linus Klasen 2 - pp - 5:03

|3-3-2=13:55 - Joel Lundqvist 2

|goalie3-1=Johan Gustafsson 20 saves / 21 shots

|goalie3-2=Július Hudáček 25 saves / 28 shots

|date4=March 19

|score4=4–3

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38438

|won4=2

|ot4=2

|4-1-1=15:59 - Jan Sandström 2

|4-1-2=Christian Bäckman 1 - pp - 12:19

|4-2-2=Magnus Kahnberg 2 - pp - 17:57

|4-3-1=7:44 - Niklas Fogström 1
8:08 - Chris Abbott 1

|4-3-2=Joel Lundqvist 3 - 0:21

|4-4-2=Mathis Olimb 1 - 14:58

|goalie4-1=Johan Gustafsson 36 saves / 40 shots

|goalie4-2=Július Hudáček 46 saves / 49 shots

|date5=March 21

|score5=4–1

|recap5=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38439

|won5=1

|5-1-1=Peter Cehlarik 1 - 12:01

|5-3-1=Linus Persson 2 - 13:49
Linus Persson 3 - en - 19:26
Niklas Olausson 1 - en - 19:52

|5-3-2=16:55 - Brendan Bell 1

|goalie5-1=Johan Gustafsson 28 saves / 29 shots

|goalie5-2=Július Hudáček 27 saves / 31 shots

|date6=March 23

|score6=2–4

|recap6=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LId=251&GameId=38440

|won6=1

|6-1-1=5:20 - Chris Abbott 2
13:21 - pp - Daniel Gunnarsson 2

|6-2-1=3:53 - Toni Koivisto 1

|6-2-2=Jari Tolsa 1 - pp - 9:58

|6-3-1=18:17 - en - Daniel Mannberg 1

|6-3-2=Henrik Tömmernes 1 - 17:49

|goalie6-1=Johan Gustafsson 33 saves / 35 shots

|goalie6-2=Július Hudáček 15 saves / 19 shots

|series=Luleå HF won series 4–2

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=HV71

|team2=Linköpings HC

|stadium1=Kinnarps Arena

|stadium2=Cloetta Center

|date1=March 13

|score1=6–0

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38442

|won1=1

|1-1-1=Mats Trygg 1 - 2:10
Anton Bengtsson 1 - 16:16

|1-2-1=Rhett Rakhshani 1 - 2:19
Elias Fälth 1 - 17:45

|1-3-1=Mats Trygg 2 - 10:57
Johan Lindström 1 - 14:14

|goalie1-1=Gustaf Wesslau 19 saves / 19 shots

|goalie1-2=Christian Engstrand 16 saves / 20 shots
Andreas Andersson 11 saves / 13 shots

|date2=March 15

|home2=2

|score2=6–1

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38443

|won2=2

|2-1-1=14:19 - sh - Patrik Carlsson 1

|2-1-2=Sebastian Karlsson 1 - sh - 11:29
Mattias Bäckman 1 - pp - 16:31
Simon Hjalmarsson 1 - pp - 17:14

|2-2-2=Magnus Johansson 1 - 3:52

|2-3-2=Daniel Grillfors 1 - en - 15:14
Pär Arlbrandt 1 - en - 17:27

|goalie2-1=Gustaf Wesslau 26 saves / 32 shots

|goalie2-2=Christian Engstrand 31 saves / 32 shots

|date3=March 17

|home3=1

|score3=4–5

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38444

|won3=2

|ot3=1

|3-1-1=Jesper Fasth 1 - 2:45

|3-1-2=7:57 - Pär Arlbrandt 2

|3-2-1=David Petrasek 1 - 4:16
Per Ledin 1 - 6:33
Jason Krog 1 - pp - 7:57

|3-2-2=0:52 - Robin Figren 1
12:23 - Robin Figren 2

|3-3-2=1:16 - sh - Lee Goren 1

|3-4-2=5:40 - ps - Pär Arlbrandt 3

|goalie3-1=Gustaf Wesslau 19 saves / 24 shots

|goalie3-2=Christian Engstrand 34 saves / 38 shots

|date4=March 19

|score4=5–4

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38445

|won4=2

|ot4=1

|4-1-1=2:43 - Johan Lindström 2
18:27 - Andreas Jämtin 1

|4-1-2=Robin Figren 3 - 14:03

|4-2-1=4:16 - Johan Lindström 3
15:24 - Patrik Carlsson 2

|4-2-2=Johannes Salmonsson 1 - sh - 7:22
Magnus Johansson 2 - pp - 14:27

|4-3-2=Lee Goren 2 - 19:09

|4-4-2=Simon Hjalmarsson 2 - 2:27

|goalie4-1=Gustaf Wesslau 19 saves / 24 shots

|goalie4-2=Christian Engstrand 5 saves / 6 shots
Andreas Andersson 10 saves / 13 shots

|date5=March 21

|score5=1–6

|recap5=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38446

|won5=2

|5-1-1=No scoring

|5-1-2=5:04 - Robin Figren 4
11:37 - Johannes Salmonsson 2
12:44 - Pär Arlbrandt 4

|5-2-2=9:44 - pp - Patrik Zackrisson 1
10:32 - ps - Pär Arlbrandt 5

|5-3-1=Patrik Carlsson 3 - 6:51

|5-3-2=16:48 - en - Simon Hjalmarsson 3

|goalie5-1=Gustaf Wesslau 4 saves / 7 shots
Jonas Gunnarsson 5 saves / 8 shots

|goalie5-2=Andreas Andersson 34 saves / 35 shots

|series=Linköpings HC won series 4–1

}}

Skellefteå won the series 4–1 and advanced to the Finals for the third year in a row, becoming the first team to achieve this feat since HV71 between 2008–2010.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Skellefteå AIK

|team2=Linköpings HC

|stadium1=Skellefteå Kraft Arena

|stadium2=Cloetta Center

|date1=March 28

|score1=2–3

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38457

|ot1=1

|won1=2

|1-1-1=Oscar Möller 3 - 3:51

|1-2-1=Joakim Lindström 3 - pp - 4:55

|1-3-2=3:07 - Patrik Zackrisson 2
13:52 - sh - Sebastian Karlsson 2

|1-4-2=15:18 - Erik Lindhagen 1

|goalie1-1=Markus Svensson 33 saves / 36 shots

|goalie1-2=Christian Engstrand 36 saves / 38 shots

|date2=March 30

|home2=2

|score2=2–3

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38458

|ot2=1

|won2=1

|2-1-1=10:33 - pp - Oscar Lindberg 2

|2-1-2=Mattias Bäckman 2 - 7:34
Carl Söderberg 1 - sh - 9:24

|2-3-1=19:28 - Viktor Arvidsson 3

|2-4-1=6:43 - John Klingberg 1

|goalie2-1=Joacim Eriksson 17 saves / 19 shots

|goalie2-2=Christian Engstrand 30 saves / 33 shots

|date3=April 1

|home3=1

|score3=3–2

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38459

|ot3=1

|won3=1

|3-1-1=No scoring

|3-2-1=Viktor Arvidsson 4 - 4:15

|3-2-2=12:38 - sh - Magnus Johansson 3
13:52 - Pär Arlbrandt 6

|3-3-1=Petter Emanuelsson 3 - 9:11

|3-4-1=Oscar Lindberg 3 - 3:27

|goalie3-1=Joacim Eriksson 18 saves / 20 shots

|goalie3-2=Christian Engstrand 44 saves / 47 shots

|date4=April 3

|score4=2–3

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38460

|ot4=1

|won4=1

|4-1-1=No scoring

|4-2-1=5:31 - Petter Emanuelsson 4
16:29 - Joakim Lindström 4

|4-3-2=Simon Hjalmarsson 4 - 0:27
Simon Hjalmarsson 5 - 19:11

|4-4-1=4:48 - Oscar Lindberg 4

|goalie4-1=Joacim Eriksson 25 saves / 27 shots

|goalie4-2=Christian Engstrand 24 saves / 27 shots

|date5=April 5

|score5=3–1

|recap5=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38449

|won5=1

|5-1-1=Oscar Möller 4 - 19:43

|5-2-2=9:34 - pp - Pär Arlbrandt 7

|5-3-1=Petter Emanuelsson 5 - 12:12
Jimmie Ericsson 2 - 17:00

|goalie5-1=Joacim Eriksson 14 saves / 15 shots

|goalie5-2=Christian Engstrand 32 saves / 35 shots

|series=Skellefteå AIK won series 4–1

}}

Luleå won the series 4–1 and advanced to the Finals for the first time since winning the Swedish Championship in 1996.

Linus Persson's game-deciding goal in Game 4, 12 seconds into overtime, is a new record for the fastest overtime goal scored in Elitserien playoff history.{{cite web |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/elitserien/lika-bra-att-aka-ner-och-avgora-det-har/ |title=Lika bra att åka ner och avgöra det här |work=Expressen |last=Sunnervik |first=Linus |language=sv |date=2013-04-04 |access-date=2013-04-05}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Färjestad BK

|team2=Luleå HF

|stadium1=Löfbergs Lila Arena

|stadium2=Coop Norrbotten Arena

|date1=March 29

|score1=1–4

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38452

|won1=2

|1-1-1=No scoring

|1-1-2=12:10 - pp - Anton Hedman 1

|1-2-1=Chris Lee 6 - 7:50

|1-2-2=2:31 - Toni Koivisto 2
15:15 - pp - Linus Klasen 3

|1-3-2=18:58 - en - Chris Abbott 3

|goalie1-1=Alexander Salák 24 saves / 28 shots

|goalie1-2=Johan Gustafsson 26 saves / 27 shots

|date2=March 31

|home2=2

|score2=5–2

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38453

|won2=2

|2-1-1=9:55 - Christian Berglund 1

|2-1-2=Cam Abbott 1 - 13:46

|2-2-1=2:36 - pp - Mikael Johansson 1

|2-2-2=Joonas Vihko 2 - pp - 1:12
Jan Sandström 3 - pp - 1:56
Cam Abbott 2 - 6:39

|2-3-2=Mika Pyörälä 1 - en - 18:59

|goalie2-1=Alexander Salák 22 saves / 27 shots

|goalie2-2=Johan Gustafsson 17 saves / 19 shots

|date3=April 2

|home3=1

|score3=4–1

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38454

|won3=1

|3-1-1=Anders Bastiansen 3 - 18:26
Chris Lee 7 - 19:33

|3-2-2=9:54 - pp - Linus Persson 4

|3-3-1=Mikael Johansson 2 - 1:15
Patrik Lundh 2 - 11:38

|goalie3-1=Alexander Salák 30 saves / 31 shots

|goalie3-2=Johan Gustafsson 16 saves / 20 shots

|date4=April 4

|score4=3–2

|ot4=1

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38455

|won4=2

|4-1-1=2:07 - Anton Grundel 1

|4-2-1=9:24 - pp - Christian Berglund 2

|4-2-2=Karl Fabricius 2 - 1:16
Jens Jakobs 1 - 4:49

|4-4-2=Linus Persson 5 - 0:12

|goalie4-1=Alexander Salák 36 saves / 39 shots

|goalie4-2=Johan Gustafsson 18 saves / 20 shots

|date5=April 6

|score5=1–2

|ot5=1

|recap5=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38456

|won5=2

|5-1-1=No scoring

|5-2-1=Magnus Nygren 1 - pp - 8:12

|5-3-2=11:16 - pp - Linus Persson 6

|5-4-2=12:45 - Linus Klasen 4

|goalie5-1=Alexander Salák 30 saves / 32 shots

|goalie5-2=Johan Gustafsson 44 saves / 45 shots

|series=Luleå HF won series 4–1

}}

File:SAIK - LHF SM-final 2013 Match 1.jpg - Luleå HF Finals 2013, Game 1]]

The Finals became a matchup between the league's two northernmost teams: Skellefteå and Luleå. Skellefteå won three of the five regular-season games against Luleå; two of the five games had to be decided in a shootout. This was only the second playoff series between these two teams; in 2011, Skellefteå defeated Luleå in six games to advance to the Finals (where they eventually lost). This was Skellefteå's third consecutive Finals appearance (Skellefteå reached the Finals in 2011 and 2012), and their fourth overall excluding seasons before Elitserien was formed. Luleå made their first Finals appearance since losing the Swedish Championship to Färjestad three games to one in 1997, as well as their third appearance overall (Luleå became Swedish Champions in 1996).

Skellefteå won the series 4–0, and became Swedish champions for the first time since 1978, and only the second time in club history. Luleå became the first team since 2003 to get swept in the Finals, in four straight games. Skellefteå finished the playoffs with a 12–1 record, the best playoff record since Färjestad's playoff run in 2009.

In Game 4, Skellefteå clinched the Swedish Championship with a 4–0 shutout over Luleå. Goaltender Joacim Eriksson stopped all 32 shots against Skellefteå's crease. After the first period, Skellefteå was up 2–0, following goals by Oscar Möller at 3:33 and Erik Forssell at 15:22. 5:32 into the second period, Johan Forsberg netted his first goal of the playoffs to give Skellefteå a three-goal lead. With less than four minutes to go in the third period, Erik Forssell sealed the Swedish Championship for Skellefteå with an empty netter, his second goal of the game.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Skellefteå AIK

|team2=Luleå HF

|stadium1=Skellefteå Kraft Arena

|stadium2=Coop Norrbotten Arena

|date1=April 13

|score1=1–0

|recap1=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38467

|won1=1

|ot1=1

|1-1-1=No scoring

|1-4-1=Bud Holloway 4 - 8:30

|goalie1-1=Joacim Eriksson 18 saves / 18 shots

|goalie1-2=Johan Gustafsson 44 saves / 45 shots

|date2=April 14

|home2=2

|score2=2–4

|recap2=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38468

|won2=1

|2-1-1=11:37 - Petter Emanuelsson 6
15:01 - Viktor Arvidsson 5
16:55 - Jimmie Ericsson 3

|2-1-2=Linus Persson 7 - 2:35

|2-2-1=6:01 - Melker Karlsson 2

|2-2-2=Linus Persson 8 - 12:24

|goalie2-1=Joacim Eriksson 32 saves / 34 shots

|goalie2-2=Johan Gustafsson 18 saves / 22 shots

|date3=April 16

|home3=1

|score3=2–1

|recap3=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38469

|won3=1

|3-1-1=No scoring

|3-1-2=18:50 - pp - Daniel Gunnarsson 3

|3-2-1=Martin Ševc 2 - 0:32
Viktor Arvidsson 6 - 18:00

|goalie3-1=Joacim Eriksson 28 saves / 29 shots

|goalie3-2=Johan Gustafsson 23 saves / 25 shots

|date4=April 18

|score4=0–4

|recap4=estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LGameStatistics.aspx?LID=251&GameId=38463

|won4=1

|4-1-1=3:33 - Oscar Möller 5
15:22 - Erik Forssell 4

|4-2-1=5:32 - Johan Forsberg 1

|4-3-1=16:22 - en - Erik Forssell 5

|goalie4-1=Joacim Eriksson 32 saves / 32 shots

|goalie4-2=Johan Gustafsson 37 saves / 40 shots

|series=Skellefteå AIK won series 4–0

}}

Updated as of the end of the playoffs.{{cite web |url=http://estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LPlayersPoints.aspx?LId=251 |title=Statistik |publisher=Hockeyligan |access-date=2013-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517065356/http://estat.hockeyligan.se/c/LPlayersPoints.aspx?LId=251 |archive-date=2013-05-17 |url-status=dead }}

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

These are the leaders in GAA and save percentage 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 playoffs.{{cite web |url=https://stats.swehockey.se |title=Statistik - Swedish Ice Hockey Association |publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association}}

GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

• 2013 Kvalserien
• List of SHL seasons
• 2012 in ice hockey
• 2013 in ice hockey

{{Reflist}}

{{Commonscat-inline}}

{{SHL}}

{{2012–13 in men's ice hockey}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elitserien Season 2012-13}}

2012-13

1

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