Malmo had lost their previous home match, though that was their only defeat in their last eight as they had climbed from outside the Playoff places entirely and into the top six. Frolunda may have won their last nine in the SHL, but the trip south was expected to be one of their toughest.
Yet, that did not seem to be the case after Noah Hasa goals early in both the first and second periods gave the Gothenburg side a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
However, the Redhawks refused to lie down and got back in the match midway through the third period when Axel Sundberg struck, before a roughing call against Arttu Ruotsalainen allowed Malmo to equalise with a powerplay goal in the final minute of regulation, courtesy of Carl Persson.
The teams headed to a shootout after overtime failed to produce a winner, and of the six penalties, only Frolunda's Jacob Peterson found the net, handing the visitors a 1-0 win in the shootout and 3-2 in the contest.
Despite only picking up two points, Frolunda's lead atop the standings has increased further, following a third loss in a row by Skelleftea. Like Malmo, they also fell to a 3-2 loss after penalties, with theirs coming at the hands of Djurgarden, who ended a three-game losing run of their own.
The match played out remarkably similarly to the one in Malmo, as the visitors went 2-0 up thanks to a goal in each of the first two periods - Charles Hudon and Hugo Blixt struck for Djurgarden in the fifth minute of each period, respectively.
The Skelleftea response was swift, though, as a minute after conceding for a second time, Pontus Johansson got the home side back in the match. Then, after a procession of penalties against the visitors, Rickard Hugg finally took advantage on a powerplay early in period three.
Again, as in Malmo, neither side could find a way through in overtime and only one penalty was scored in the shootout - Jesse Ylonen stepped up first and scored, before Skelleftea missed their three attempts.
All three losses in succession for Skelleftea have come beyond regulation time, as they have watched Frolunda go 15 points clear.
Filip Roos' goal in overtime sealed a 2-1 win for Farjestad over Leksand, who stay bottom after failing to repeat their heroics against Djugarden on St Stephen's Day. Those two points keep Farjestad sixth, two points clear of the Stockholm side in seventh.
Today's other match to be settled in overtime saw Brynas replace opponents Orebro in the 10th and final Playoff place. Jakob Silfverberg netted the match-winner 39 seconds into the extra period, yet celebrations quickly turned sour after he and Robert Hagg were dismissed for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The 5-4 win nonetheless for Brynas was their first win in three, while it's back-to-back losses now for Orebro.
After two wins and 12 goals scored in their first two matches over the festive period, HV 71 could not repeat the trick against Rogle, falling to a 3-1 loss as they remain 13th, while the Angelholm side have moved to within a point of Skelleftea in third place.
Remaining on Rogle's heels are Vaxjo, who held on for a 3-2 away win against Linkoping. It's just a second win in five for the Lakers, but it keeps them three points off third place, while Linkoping remain five points clear of the bottom two.
Finally, Erik Gustafsson scored one short-hander and one empty-netter as Lulea cruised to a 5-1 win over Timra - a result which sees the champions take a fourth win on the spin and move above today's opponents into eighth place.