By Chipp Reid

After failing to register a point at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Peter Forsberg returned to the Elitserien determined to have an impact.
The Elitserien opened play Feb. 27 after a three-week break for the Games and Forsberg, silent throughout the Olympic tournament, spoke volumes as he registered seven assists and a goal in three games and pushed Modo into the eighth and final playoff spot.
Forsberg rose to the occasion March 6 as Modo faced a do-or-die game against first-place HV 71. A win and Modo would reach the playoffs. A loss or a tie and the Örnsköldsvik side would be out.
The two teams battled to a 2-2 tie in regulation time, but in overtime, Forsberg and his former NHL linemate Markus Näslund proved too much for HV 71. Forsberg set up Henri Laurila at 2:53 of the extra session for a 3-2 win and two crucial points.
Modo got a boost from Djurgården as DIF beat Luleå 1-0 in regulation time. The loss kept Luleå at 69 points while Modo has 70.
Forsberg and his teammates returned to the Elitserien with a vengeance. Modo crushed Färjestad 10-3 on Feb. 27 as Forsberg picked up two assists. The victory also signaled the start of a scoring tear for Mats Zuccarello Aasen. The Modo center had two goals against FBK and also had a goal and assist in a 5-4 loss to Timrå March 1. On March 3, Modo hammered Linköping 8-0 as Forsberg had three assists and a goal and Aasen had a hat trick and an assist. Aasen also had two assists in the win over HV 71, and he now leads the league in scoring with 62 points on 22 goals and 40 assists.
With three games left in the regular season, Modo is finally in control of its own destiny. When Forsberg signed with Modo back in November, the team was in dead last and few gave Modo and chance of crawling out of the cellar.
Now, Modo is arguably the hottest-scoring in the Elitserien. Modo is back in action March 8 when it faces fourth-place Skellefteå
HV 71 continues to lead the standings with 92 points while Linköping is second with 90. Djurgården is third with 86 points.

Standings as of March 6
TEAM GP W D L DIFF PTS
1 HV71 52 30 4 18 +35 92
2 Linköpings HC 52 30 3 19 +28 90
3 Djurgården IF 52 26 6 20 +27 86
4 Skellefteå AIK 52 27 3 22 +8 86
5 Färjestad BK 52 26 2 24 -13 83
6 Brynäs IF 52 23 11 18 +14 76
7 Frölunda HC 52 22 9 21 +1 75
8 MODO Hockey 52 22 7 23 +10 70
9 Luleå HF 52 21 2 29 -7 69
10 Timrå IK 52 19 7 26 -14 68
11 Södertälje SK 52 19 4 29 -45 57
12 Rögle BK 52 17 2 33 -44 54