Three defeats and no points in their last three had seen Linkoping drop to the foot of the table, and though they are still propping up the rest, a 3-2 away win after penalties against HV 71 has taken them within three points of safety and kept HV in the relegation zone with them, a point ahead.
Jonathan Ang twice put the home side ahead in the first and second periods, but both times Linkoping responded just over three minutes later, first through Linus Hultstrom and then Brendan Shinnimin. Neither side could make use of a powerplay chance each in period three and overtime, before Theodor Lennstrom scored the visitors' third penalty of the shootout to win it and hand HV a third loss in a row.
The team in 12th that both are chasing is Djurgarden, who were well beaten in the meeting of the Gothenburg and Stockholm clubs, as Frolunda picked up a third win in a row, running out 6-2 winners to move two points behind leaders Farjestad, albeit having played a game more.
Isak Heens and Erik Thorell put the home side into a commanding lead with 10 minutes played, before Henrik Tommernes extended it in the second period. Oliver Walhstrom got Djuargarden on the board, only for Samuel Fagemo to restore the three-goal lead just past the midpoint of the match.
Goals two minutes apart from Max Lindholm and Max Westergard wrapped up the healthy win long before Charles Hudon's consolation goal.