Black WIngs Linz, Yunost Minsk and the Vaxjo Lakers all look to advance to the next round, while HC Kosice could be eliminated in tonight's CHL action.
Orli Znojmo vs. Red Bull Munich
Nevoga Arena; Group F, 18:00
Orli Znojmo make their CHL debut, and while they're used to playing the Red Bulls of Salzburg in the EBEL, tonight they face those of the Munich kind. The Bavarians lost their tournament opener in Fribourg, meaning that road points in the Czech Republic would be more than useful.
Orli Znojmo defenceman Jan Lattner said of tonight's game, "Red Bull have many Canadians in their lineup, so I think that their style of play will be similar to Salzburg or Linz. It is going to be a big test for us as the Munich team will definitely punish our mistakes if we make them. We have to play well defensively and be respectful, but we will enter the ice with the goal of winning the game."
Reflecting on their loss in Fribourg, Munich head coach Don Jackson said, "We deserved more from the game. Their goalie played excellently, which was ultimately the difference and you have to credit him for that." Continuing about tonight's game, he added, "I know Orli Znojmo from the EBEL as a hardworking team with talented players. We will have to show our best hockey early in the season to make the next round."
Yunost Minsk vs. Vaxjo Lakers
Chizhovka-Arena; Group L, 18:00
After Tuesday's game we will know one qualifier from Group L – Yunost Minsk if they win in regulation time or the Vaxjo Lakers if they get at least one point.
All three remaining Group L games involve Yunost Minsk, so the Belarusian club is certainly in a position to control its own destiny. One point above BK Mlada Boleslav with two games in hand, all Yunost need from their three remaining games is three points in total – something they'd like to take care of on Tuesday in their last group home game against the Vaxjo Lakers. It won't be easy, though. The Lakers are just a year removed from being champions of the strong SHL, and have yet to secure their spot in the next round yet. To do that, the Swedish club needs is a single point – if they finished tied in points with Mlada Boleslav, they would advance by winning the head-to-head series 4-2 in points.
Yunost's roster is bolstered by the arrival of former KHL defenceman Valeri Vasiliev. The club announced his signing on Monday, and he will debut with the team on Tuesday. They will be without forwards Dmitri Gerasimov and Vsevelod Kashkar, who are injured.
Black Wings Linz vs. HC Kosice
Keine Sorgen EisArena; Group M, 19:30
The reverse match-up in which should ultimately decide runners up to Bern in this group, Kosice travel to Linz knowing that only a win will do. Any win for the Black Wings – either in regulation or extra time – will guarantee they make the Round of 32 for the first time; for the Slovaks it's simply a case of must win, and while an OT or SO win would mean they stay alive for now, they would then be reliant on beating Bern away to have any chance of making the next round. The best outcome for Kosice would be a win by two or more goals, which would win them the tie-breaker against Linz, should they need it.
"Nothing less than our best will be enough tonight," said Linz netminder Mike Ouzas, who was ultimately their match winner in Kosice. "We have to build on our performance there and go again. In this game we have to show that we can step up a level again."
"Nothing is lost for us at this stage of the group. We are travelling to Linz to do all we can to win the game," said Kosice forward Jakub Suja, while captain Ladislav Nagy added, "We were clearly the better team in the first game against Linz, but unfortunately, hockey can be cruel sometimes."
HC Lugano vs. Tappara Tampere
Resega; Group C, 19:45
After a big road win away to Mannheim, Lugano took the early lead in Group C. Tappara, on the other hand, lost in their visit to Germany, and head to Switzerland in search of their first CHL points this season. Another loss and the Tampere side would have to do t all on home ice. Swiss teams have yet to lose in the CHL so far this season, and if Lugano manges to carry that on they'll be in a very good position after two games.
"I’m really satisfied with my team because in Mannheim we found a way to win, even if the first period was really difficult. Special teams were the key points," said head coach Doug Shedden. "We won't underestimate Tampere after their defeat in Germany. They lost some very skilled players recently and they have a young team, but they still are the Finnish champions.”
“We saw Lugano play against Mannheim and know that we are against another strong, physical team. We got outplayed in battling for the puck against Mannheim, so that is the single biggest thing we have to improve for Tuesday's game," said Petri Tuononen of Tappara’s coaching staff. "One-on-one battles, special teams both shorthanded and on the power play, and attacking as a unit – those should be our focus points in Lugano.”
Lulea Hockey vs. SaiPa Lappeenranta
Coop Norrbotten Arena; Group I, 20:00
Tuesday's clash between Lulea and SaiPa in northern Sweden will be each team's second game in Group I. Both teams played their first games in Berlin, with Lulea falling 2-1 to Die Eisbaren and SaiPa beating them 4-2. After this game, the group will be half finished. A regulation win by Lulea would knot all three teams together with three points each, while a SaiPa regulation win would almost guarantee the Finnish club's advancement and put Lulea in trouble.
For Lulea, this is their first competitive home game of the season, and they want to get off to a good start in front of their home fans. As a group they aren't happy with their effort in Berlin and known they need to be better against SaiPa. Defenceman Craig Schira said about the last game, “You can't make excuses for something like that. You've gotta find the energy and I don't know why it wasn't there. We have to learn from that and make sure we have it on Tuesday.”
On the other side, SaiPa have three points from their first away game and anything they can take from Lulea will only make their situation better heading into their two home games. "As with the last game, they're a strong fast-skating team like us," said head coach Ari Santanen. "It'll be a game full fo speed and attacking hockey."