Read below for information on the Round of 16 series between SaiPa Lappeenranta and the Vaxjo Lakers. Vaxjo won 6-5 in overtime to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

Preview

SaiPa take on Vaxjo in one of two Finland-Sweden pairings this round. One interesting thing about this match-up is neither team has been beaten in regulation time so far – SaiPa have won all six games, while Vaxjo have lost twice in extra time and had a draw against Red Bull Munich. These teams have never faced each other in the CHL before, and neither team has set the world on fire domestically – the Lakers sit 8th in the SHL while SaiPa linger 11th in the Liiga. Both teams are strong offensively – in fact, they rank 3rd and 5th in the CHL so far in goals scored. Defensively, SaiPa have been stronger, and if their CHL play is the sole thing to be taken into account, the Finnish club would be considered the favourites.

Although they have yet to lose a game in the CHL, SaiPa start this series at home and Vaxjo get the last home game. Vaxjo have taken the maximum 9 points at home in the CHL but only 3 points from their away games, so they'll probably feel comfortable if they can head home with the aggregate score tied again. As for SaiPa, they've won wherever they've played.

Closer look: SaiPa Lappeenranta

(5-1-0-0, 14 points, 23:11)

In their return to the CHL this season, SaiPa were nearly perfect in the group stage, dropping only one point and finishing with 11 to win Group I easily. They got off to an excellent start with a pair of 4-2 road wins in Berlin and Lulea. Then they got off to a slow start in their home debut against Lulea and fell down a couple goals, but rallied to tie it in the third period and eventually won in a shootout, 3-2. They then sealed the group win by beating Eisbaren 6-3. Perhaps most impressive of all was their performance in the Round of 32, where they defeated reigning Liiga champions 6-2 on aggregate after winning both games by 2 goals. SaiPa have shown an impressive combination of solid defence and timely scoring in the CHL so far, and they will have to continue that if they want to advance past their first Swedish opponent in the next round. 

Tero

Koskiranta

1+6, +3

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Tero Koskiranta is a veteran forward who can play centre or right wing, and has played his entire career in Finland, save for a 13-game stint with Farjestad Karlstad in 2014-15. In his first season with SaiPa, he has shown himself to be a fine playmaker, co-leading the CHL with 6 assists and setting up Canadian linemate John McFarland on numerous occasions – McFarland leads the team with 5 CHL goals. Otherwise, the line of Tomi Leivo, Eetu Koski and Mikael Kuronen was re-united against Tappara and was brilliant. Domestically, they are led offensively by Matti Jarvinen and Curtis Hamilton, showing that, when healthy, this team is very deep up front. 

Per

Savilahti-Nagander

3+1, even

 

Top Defenceman: Per Savilahti-Nagander is the anchor of SaiPa’s defensive game, and the right-shooting d-man is also important on the penalty kill. Savilahti-Nagander knows how to win in the CHL, as a member of Lulea Hockey in 2014-15 – in that victorious CHL season he contributed 5 points in 12 games. This season he already has 4 points in six CHL games. Savilahti-Nagander is loyal for his former and current teams, having played almost all of his career either with Lulea or SaiPa. He has played the most games by an import player in SaiPa history. The question is, will this loyal defenceman show his team the way to victory in the Champions Hockey League?

Jussi

Markkanen

94.17 %

 

Top Goaltender: Ever since arriving in Lappeenranta four years ago, veteran goaltender Jussi Markkanen has been the main man between the pipes for SaiPa. Frans Tuohimaa put up some impressive numbers in the group stage and seemed to be challenging for the starting job, but since he went down injured early in the Liiga season, 41-year-old Markkanen has re-established himself as the go-to guy. He was very strong in the second game against Tappara and the team will now turn to him against Vaxjo.

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Vaxjo Lakers

(3-0-3-0, 12 points, 21:14)

The Vaxjo Lakers finished first place in Group L, but disposing of Yunost Minsk and BK Mlada Boleslav was far from an easy task for them. While offence wasn't a problem, defence was at times against opponents from supposedly inferior leagues. They started by hosting Mlada Boleslav in a loosely played first period that was tied 3-3, before finding their game and eventually winning 7-3. Their next game in Minsk was a back-and-forth affair, with Yunost eventually winning 4-3 in overtime. Their road woes continued in Mlada Boleslav, where they allowed a late tying goal and lost in a shootout. They hosted Yunost in the last group game, with both teams already through but top spot in the group at stake – here the Lakers came through with their best start-to-finish effort of the season with a 4-0 win. They opened the Round of 32 with a 1-1 tie in Munich, then won the return game 4-3 at home. So far, they have taken the maximum points at home but failed to win any of their road games yet, and they will look to reverse that trend in the first leg in Lappeenranta. 

Pontus

Netterberg

3+4, +4

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Pontus Netterberg is new to the team and what a start it was for him with his new club. He scored 2 big goals in the last group game against Yunost, and although he was held pointless in the two games against Munich, his 7 points still ties him for the team scoring lead with Adam Brodecki. Heading into this season, the 24-year-old winger had only played five games of elite-level hockey, but the Lakers have high hopes for him this season. He is an offensive-minded player with a great shot that makes him a natural goal scorer and definitely a player to keep an eye on, although he has struggled in the SHL so far. Other new reinforcements to the team's attack are ex-KHLers Geoff Platt and Olli Palola and ex-NHLer Dennis Everberg, who has a point per game in the SHL.

Cory

Murphy

0+6, +2

 

Top Defenceman: Veteran Cory Murphy is now in his fourth season with the club and has been a solid piece on Vaxjo’s back end since he first joined. The 38-year-old Canadian played three years in the NHL, but has spent the majority of his professional career in Europe, where he has excelled. He is a defenceman with great vision and offensive instincts. That makes him capable of contributing on offence and he is a great threat from the blue line on the power play. He is tied for the CHL lead with 6 assists and has 4 assists in the SHL, although he has yet to score a goal this year in either competition.

Joacim

Eriksson

88.89 %

 

Top Goaltender: Joacim Eriksson and Viktor Andren have played three games each for Vaxjo during the CHL, and have split the playing time almost down the middle in the SHL as well. While 22-year-old Andren has had the better numbers, one has to think that Ericsson, former NHLer and Word Championship bronze medallist, has the inside track on being the team's starting goalie. Ericsson is only 26, but it seems as if he's been around for a while now. He backstopped Skelleftea AIK to the SHL title in 2013 before going overseas. Andren, meanwhile, is a Vaxjo product that has spent the past two seasons in the Allsvenskan. They both played against Munich and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them both against SaiPa as well. 

Click here for team statistics.