We go again in the Champions Hockey League today, as six games complete Game Day 4.
Staff writers
Linkoping HC vs. IFK Helsinki
Group A; Saab Arena, 15:00
Group A was always looked at as one that could go down to the wire, and it's lived up to it’s billing. The two Nordic clubs in the group meet this afternoon in Sweden, with the hosts finding themselves going into the game on the foot of the table. A regulation win would propel them to the top of the table, while the same result for IFK Helsinki would send them through to the next round.
Linkoping have two more games to come next week; however, both are on the road.
Kalpa Kuopio vs. Stavanger Oilers
Group L; Kuopion Jaahalli, 15:00
The Stavanger Oilers are on the brink of qualification to the next round, which a regulation win would give them. A win in overtime would probably also do it, depending on how things go in the final meeting between Trinec and KalPa.
Having only played on game, and needing OT to win it at home to Trinec, KalPa actually find themselves last in the group ahead of today's game. A win would put them top, ahead of visiting both of their group rivals next week.
Neman Grodno vs. Vitkovice Ostrava
Group I; Ledovy Dvorets Sporta, 16:00
A key game in the race for qualification from Group I, Belarusian side Neman Grodno know that a win at home to their Czech opponents will leave their fate in their own hands. Neman can tie level with Adler Mannheim with a win, and would top the group by virtue of the better head-to-head record too. For Vitkovice a win would be useful, but coming home with something is a must. Should they lose in regulation they would trail the other two teams by 6 points, and face elimination in their next game.
For Neman forward Milan Mikulik, it's a game against a team he no longer feels many ties to: “The game against Vitkovice is not going to be special for me. It's been a long time since I played for my native club. Among the players there are almost no friends. So I do not have any special feelings.”
“We have to be honest and say that we weren’t the better side for first two periods in our opening game with Mannheim. However, we had chances to turn the game in our favour but, unfortunately, we didn’t score on them,” says Vitkovice head coach Ladislav Svozil. “We can’t repeat that in Grodno. You can expect it will be a one or two-goal game. For sure it will be a tight one.”
Dynamo Pardubice vs. Farjestad Karlstad
Group E; Tipsport Arena, 17:00
With Davos already through, this game is key in the battle to get the last qualification place from Group E. Karlstad head into the game with a two-point advantage over their opponents, but that comfort gap will vanish with a regulation loss. For Pardubice, a win is essential, especially as it's their last home game of the group phase.
Pardubice forward Patrik Poulicek is being moved up to the top line for today’s game and will line up along side Sykora and Rolinek. “It’s awesome. I’ll try to listen to them as much as possible so I can do what they tell me. They try to give me confidence and I’m glad we have such a good relationship. Up until now I haven’t messed up!” says an excited Poulicek.
KAC Klagenfurt vs. HC Kosice
Group H; Stadthalle Klagenfurt, 17:30
It’ll be advantage to whoever wins tonight in the race to finish behind Munich and make it to the next round. These two sides face each other back to back before the KAC end their campain in Munich next week.
"They're a skilled and talented team, and play a very different style of hockey to our last opponents – with a quieter and more passive gameplay than Munich,” says KAC coach Doug Mason on his team’s opponents today. “For us it’s important to bring tempo to the game, and get the puck deep behind their defencemen.”
“We played a completely different game in Munich than against them at home,” says Peter Oremus, coach of Kosice. “However, you can’t win without scoring a goal. Now we have to do everything we can to win next game against Klagenfurt.”
Sheffield Steelers vs. JYP Jyvaskyla
Group N; Motorpoint Arena, 18:00
After a much improved performance in Finland last weekend against JYP, the Steelers now entertain the club from Jyvaskyla back on home ice in Sheffield. It's a special game for Steelers’ coach Paul Thompson, who finds himself back in the Arena on the Steelers’ bench for the first time since playing for the team in 1993.
“I won’t be nervous, but I will be excited. The summer was a whirlwind so it will all kick in for me at the Arena on Sunday,” says Thompson, who wants his team to be more direct again JYP tonight. “Our objective is to channel pucks to the net and overload there to get the second chance (at scoring) – if you don’t buy a ticket you don’t win the lottery. For the first part of our pre-season we worked hard on the defensive side of our game, now we want to focus on being direct, driving the net and finding the areas where we can score."