2010 Kvalserien

The 2010 Kvalserien was the 36th Kvalserien, played between 21 March and 11 April 2010. Södertälje and AIK, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively, qualified for the 2010–11 Elitserien season. Rögle were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan.

This year's Kvalserien was one of the closest ones ever. After the 9th round, four teams (AIK, Rögle, Leksand and Almtuna) all had their chance to qualify for the 2010–11 Elitserien season. After the 9th round, AIK were on the second and last Elitserien spot, being one point ahead of Rögle, who had 15 points at that time. AIK needed a win against Växjö at home in Hovet, in order to secure their last Elitserien spot. In the 10th and final round, AIK won 2–0 against Växjö and thus secured their Elitserien spot. AIK finished the 2010 Kvalserien with 18 points, the lowest number of points a team has ever been able to qualify to Elitserien with, ever since Kvalserien started in 1975.

But only after the 7th round, no one even believed that AIK could qualify. At that time, they were at the third place with 10 points, four points behind Rögle. But Rögle lost their two following games, which AIK won, and AIK were therefore at the last Elitserien spot after the 9th round. Södertälje had already secured their Elitserien spot after the 9th round.

Like previous Kvalserien years, Leksand were once again a big disappointment for everyone. They were at the third place with 13 points after the 8th round, only one point behind Rögle, who were on the last Elitserien spot at that time. But Leksand lost 5–2 away against the last ranked team Växjö in the 9th round, and thus, Leksand were forced to win their last game, which was against Almtuna. Although Leksand did win 2–1 against Almtuna, AIK won 2–0 against Växjö, which meant that Leksand missed Elitserien for the fifth consecutive year.

Standings

2010 Kvalserien		GP	W	T	L	OTW/SOW	OTL/SOL	GF	GA	DIF	PTS
1	Södertälje SK	10	5	5	0	1	4	34	28	+6	21
2	AIK	10	5	2	3	1	1	29	24	+5	18
3	Rögle BK	10	3	4	3	3	1	31	26	+5	16
4	Leksands IF	10	4	2	4	2	0	25	24	+1	16
5	Almtuna IS	10	3	3	3	1	2	23	23	0	13
6	Växjö Lakers HC	10	1	2	7	1	1	29	46	−17	6

Game log

2010 Kvalserien game log
March Round Date Home Result Away Venue Attendance 1 March 21 Södertälje SK 2–0 Rögle BK AXA Sports Center 4,334 Växjö Lakers HC 5–6 AIK IF Växjö Ishall 3,096 Almtuna IS 4–2 Leksands IF Gränbyhallen 2,805 2 March 23 Leksands IF 4–1 Växjö Lakers HC Ejendals Arena 6,162 AIK IF 3–4 Södertälje SK Hovet 5,413 Rögle BK 3–2 (SO) Almtuna IS Lindab Arena 4,023 3 March 25 Södertälje SK 3–2 Leksands IF AXA Sports Center 5,976 Växjö Lakers HC 2–3 (SO) Almtuna IS Växjö Ishall 2,495 AIK IF 2–3 (OT) Rögle BK Hovet 3,847 4 March 27 Almtuna IS 1–3 Södertälje SK Gränbyhallen 2,916 Leksands IF 2–1 AIK IF Ejendals Arena 7,650 Rögle BK 5–2 Växjö Lakers HC Lindab Arena 4,218 5 March 29 Södertälje SK 7–4 Växjö Lakers HC AXA Sports Center 3,679 Leksands IF 3–4 Rögle BK Ejendals Arena 7,650 AIK IF 4–1 Almtuna IS Hovet 2,573
April Round Date Home Result Away Venue Attendance 6 April 2 Växjö Lakers HC 7–6 (OT) Södertälje SK Växjö Ishall 2,502 Almtuna IS 1–2 AIK IF Gränbyhallen 2,648 Rögle BK 1–2 (OT) Leksands IF Lindab Arena 5,150 7 April 4 Södertälje SK 4–3 (OT) Almtuna IS AXA Sports Center 3,664 Växjö Lakers HC 3–7 Rögle BK Växjö Ishall 2,954 AIK IF 2–3 Leksands IF Hovet 7,023 8 April 6 Almtuna IS 4–0 Växjö Lakers HC Gränbyhallen 1,254 Leksands IF 3–2 (OT) Södertälje SK Ejendals Arena 7,650 Rögle BK 4–5 AIK IF Lindab Arena 4,989 9 April 8 Södertälje SK 1–2 (OT) AIK IF AXA Sports Center 5,741 Växjö Lakers HC 5–2 Leksands IF Växjö Ishall 2,907 Almtuna IS 3–1 Rögle BK Gränbyhallen 2,126 10 April 11 Leksands IF 2–1 Almtuna IS Ejendals Arena 6,353 AIK IF 2–0 Växjö Lakers HC Hovet 8,079 Rögle BK 3–2 (SO) Södertälje SK Lindab Arena 3,745