Farjestad go into the break with a healthy eight-point lead at the top of the table, and a 5-1 victory at Vaxjo last time out was their 12th in a row, 11 of which have been won in 60 minutes. The league leaders would probably prefer to keep their momentum going, but the break was come at the right time for the Lakers, who sit 12th in the standings after three losses in a row.
Despite always being unfancied against Farjestad, the defeat was one too many for the Vaxjo hierarchy, who parted company with head coach Bjorn Hellkvist. "We have ended up parting ways with Bjorn. It is of course a difficult and sad decision to part ways with a head coach, but our overall assessment is that the team needs a change to take the next step," said Vaxjo's sports director Henrik Evertsson.
The good news for Vaxjo is the other teams cannot buy a win at the moment, either. In the relegation zone, Linkoping have lost three in a row - the latest 4-1 against Frolunda - while a 3-2 overtime loss against Malmo was the sixth defeat in succession for HV 71.
It's five defeats in a row for 11th-placed Brynas after they fell 3-2 against Djurgarden, while IF Bjorkloven's strong start after promotion has completely deserted them, they are in the 10th and final play-off place after a 5-3 defeat to Skelleftea - their sixth defeat in 60 minutes in as many matches.
Farjestad won't be taking their foot off the gas knowing Skelleftea are their nearest challengers. With four wins in a row, the champions are putting together the kind of form that saw them catch long-time leaders Frolunda last season. As for Frolunda, they are level on points with SAIK after a first win in three but have played 16 games in total, two more than the majority of the teams in the SHL.
The aforementioned overtime win for Malmo keeps them fourth after three wins in a row, while the only team in the top eight to lose in Round 14 were Rogle, who stay fifth despite a 3-2 overtime loss against Orebro, who sit a point behind and currently make up the top six.
Lulea are knocking on the door of the top six after successive victories, though in the latter they needed penalties to see off Timra in ninth, who have taken seven points from a possible nine in their last three games. Lulea and Timra are separated in the table by Djurgarden, whose three-game winning run is bettered only by the top two.