As Game Day 5 dawns, 30 of the 44 CHL teams get to face off on Tuesday, with some games that are very key to the outcomes of their respective groups. Here we take a look at all 15 of Tuesday's games.
by Luke Fisher
Group B
ZSC Lions Zurich vs. Vienna Capitals
It’s all to play for at the top of Group B, as the Zurich Lions entertian the Vienna Capitals tonight. Vienna have a three-point lead over their hosts and a better goal difference, and will know that taking the game to overtime will leave them in a commanding position in the group table. Zurich really need a win in regulation, while the same for the Caps will clinch first in the group.
Recent domestic form:
Zurich: WLWWW
Vienna: WWWW
Färjestad Karlstad vs. Vålerenga Oslo
Elsewhere Färjestad Karlstad host Vålerenga Oslo, with the visitors looking for their first points of the group. The Swedes, who have had a disappointing CHL campagin so far, will be looking to improve their European form.
Recent domestic form:
Färjestad: WWLW
Vålerenga: LWLL
Group C
Villach SV vs. Genève-Servette
With Genève tied atop of the group with Frölunda (who play basement side Briançon Diables Rouges Wednesday), the Swiss side will need maximum points to keep their automatic qualification hopes alive. Villach have six points, both wins over Briançon, but could get themselves into contention for qualification with a regulation win tonight.
Recent domestic form:
Villach: LWWL
Genève: WLWWW
Group D
Eisbären Berlin vs. Fribourg-Gottéron
Fribourg-Gottéron have a slender one-point lead at the top of Group D over PSG Zlín, and will know that they need a win to keep that lead. Berlin sit last in the group, with just one win to their name, and need maximum points tonight to have any chance of making the next round.
Recent domestic form:
Berlin: LWWW
Fribourg: WLLLW
Djurgården Stockholm vs. PSG Zlín
Zlín will want to keep up pressure on Berlin above them with a win, however Djurgården know that a victory in regulation for them will move them up into second place with one game remaining. Certainly all to play for here, although Djurgården will take heart from Zlín’s poor domestic start, where they sit last without a point.
Recent domestic form:
Djurgården: WLWL
Zlín: LLLL
Group E
Oceláři Třinec vs. Tappara Tampere
A win for Třinec tonight will all but seal them top spot in Group E, while a win for the Finnish side will put them just a point behind their hosts when the teams meet again in Tampere in a week’s time.
Recent domestic form:
Třinec: WWLLW
Tappara: LWLWW
In the group’s other game, both Bern and Stavanger know that it’s a must-win game for both sides if either of them want to stay in contention for the runner-up spot and possible qualification berth. Whoever loses tonight could be out of the race for good, depending on other scores, which doesn’t bode well for the Oilers, who have lost their last two away games in Norway’s GETLigaen.
Recent domestic form:
Bern: LWWLW
Stavanger: WLWL
Group F
Having, somewhat surprisingly, scored just one point from their four games so far, HC Pardubice will see today’s game against Bolzano as a good time to start picking up some CHL wins – despite not being able to advance any further in the competition. Bolzano still have an outside chance of finishing runners up in the group, but need a win tonight after their first domestic win on Sunday. A loss will mean they can also go no further, and will guarantee TPS at least second place in the group.
Recent domestic form:
Pardubice: LWWLW
Bolzano: LLLW
Group G
Adler Mannheim vs. Sparta Prague
Anything other than a win for Mannheim in this game will see them eliminated from the competition, while Sparta will need a victory to stay ahead of both KalPa and Växjö, who play tomorrow. The German side may take encouragement from Sparta’s recent domestic form, which saw them record three straight losses before winning last weekend. Sparta will, of course, hope they’ve turned a corner following their win over city rivals Slavia.
Recent domestic form:
Mannheim: WLWW
Sparta: WLLLW
Group H
ERC Ingolstadt vs. Vítkovice Ostrava
With four straight wins behind them in the Extraliga, Vítkovice Ostrava will hope for maximum points to keep their CHL season alive in Ingolstadt. The hosts are on a run of two consecutive wins and, just like their Czech opponents, will be eliminated if they lose tonight.
Recent domestic form:
Ingolstadt: LLWW
Vítkovice: LWWWW
Also on the back of four straight wins are SaiPa, who trail Zug by just one point ahead of their meeting tonight in Lappeenranta. The Finns were victorious over their Swiss opponents earlier in the CHL season, but it was their loss in Ingolstadt that sees them behind in the table. A win for Zug here seals them the group, whilst a victory for SaiPa puts them in control heading in to the last game.
Recent domestic form:
SaiPa: LWWW
Zug: WWLWL
Group I
JYP Jyväskylä vs. HV71 Jönköping
Both JYP and HV71 know that anything other than a win could see them out of contention to win Group I, and neither will want to lose control of their own destiny by losing tonight. JYP took a 3-2 overtime win in Jönköping the last time these teams played, and will need to preserve their unbeaten home form to keep their hopes of making the next round alive.
Recent domestic form:
JYP: WLWL
HV71: LWWL
Kloten Flyers vs. Red Bull Salzburg
Two sides at the opposite end of the group table are Kloten and Salzburg, and they come into this game with a stark contrast in form. Kloten have lost all five of their opening NLA games, and only have an overtime loss to their name in the CHL. Salzburg, meanwhile, are unbeaten in the EBEL, and have been somewhat of a surprise package in the CHL by winning three out of four games so far. A win for Red Bull tonight will put them in a commanding position going into the final round, but a loss will see them slip down to second.
Recent domestic form:
Kloten: LLLLL
Salzburg: WWWW
Group K
This could be game of the day up in Luleå, as both sides boast perfect CHL records so far. Tonight’s game, and the reverse fixture next week, will decide the outcome of Group K, although whichever side finishes as runner up should be guaranteed of a place in the next round in the ‘best second place team’ standings based on their points totals so far. In domestic play, Luleå have won all four of their games so far (with just one on penalty shots), in contrast Lukko have just one win to their name so far.
Recent domestic form:
Luleå: WWWW
Lukko: LLLW
Nottingham Panthers vs. Hamburg Freezers
Both of these sides go into this meeting without a CHL point between them, and are both out of contention to make it to the next round. However, both will know there is pride to play for, and as the home side the Panthers will want to bow out of the CHL on home ice with a bang. They play a Hamburg squad that has lost all four of its opening DEL games, and probably will think they won’t have a better chance to score some CHL points than home ice tonight.
Recent domestic form:
Nottingham: WWL
Hamburg: LLLL