Read below for information on the Round of 32 series between Lulea Hockey and Farjestad Karlstad. Lulea won 4–3 on aggregate to advance to the Round of 16.

Game 1

Lulea are the defending European champions and they played like it tonight in Karlstad, shutting out Farjestad 3–0 to take a commanding lead into their home half of this series. Viktor Ekarv assisted on 2 of Lulea's goals, while Daniel Larsson made 29 saves for the shutout. The young Farjestad team came up with a good effort, but just couldn't beat the Lulea netminder and now have their work cut out for them, needing a 3-goal win in Lulea to extend Game 2 beyond regulation time. 

“It felt great to be back in Karlstad and play against my old teammates. They are good friends of mine still,” said Lulea forward Toni Rajala, who played last season for Farjestad and scored Lulea's second goal. “I always want to score, and this game was no exception. My old teammates asked me not to score so I guess I disappointed them a little.” About his team, he added, “We skated well and had solid defence. We made it tough for Farjestad.”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

In one of two all-Swedish Round of 32 match-ups, defending champions Lulea Hockey will meet one of the country's most successful teams historically. In a slight parallel with the other all-Sweden match-up – Vaxjo vs Djurgarden – in this case it will be the relative newcomers who have a title to defend, and will be considered the favourites. Despite being established in 1977, Lulea have become a strong team and have shown a penchant for winning in international play. Of course, none of those wins bigger than the Champions Hockey League title they won on home ice in February. Along the way, they beat Swedish powerhouses Skelleftea and Frolunda in the semi-finals and finals, which proves it doesn't matter where their opponents come from. Frolunda have nine Swedish titles to their name, but have been in a bit of a slump recently, and last season was a disappointment in both the SHL and CHL. They rebounded somewhat in the CHL group stage this year, finishing second, and they've won their first two SHL games, while Lulea have split their first two. 

(2-1-0-1, 8 points, 14:9, 1st in Group K)

The numerous meetings over the past several years between Lulea Hockey and Lukko Rauma has been well documented. The two teams split their meetings in Group K last season before Lulea beat the Finnish club in another two-game set in the quarter-finals. This year they met again, coincidentally also in Group K, and took 5 of 6 points, which won them the group, which also included Swiss club Fribourg-Gotteron. The team still has several holdovers from last year's European championship club, including goaltender Joel Lassinantti, and has added several other veteran pieces so they look poised to take another run at the prize. But first they have a scrappy Farjestad team standing in their way.

Jacob

Micflikier

4+2, +4

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: With 4 goals and 2 assists in 4 games, Jacob Micfliker has been a major factor in Lulea's CHL season so far. Lining up with Jacob Lagace and Bill Sweatt, they make one of the best offensive lines in the CHL so far. A former Linkoping forward who played in the CHL this year, Micflikier's strong play at both ends of the rink has been a welcome addition to the team.

 

Jan

Sandstrom

1+3, +1

 

Top Defenceman: Losing a top defenceman like Kristian Nakyva is painful for any team. Luckily for Lulea, others have risen in Nakyva's absence. Long-time veteran Jan Sandstrom is second in points, trailing only Micfliker in Lulea. With his experience, solid defensive play and his ability to produce points, he is among the most important players that the team has.

 

Joel

Lassinantti

92.86 %

 

Top Goaltender: This one is a real no-brainer. Joel Lassinantti is the best goalie in Lulea Hockey. Last season he was among the very best in the SHL, and all of Europe got to see that when he helped backstop his team over some very strong opponents. Despite this, there are some who say that Lassinannti still has another level to his game that he hasen't shown us yet.

 

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Farjestad Karlstad

(1-2-0-1, 7 points, 8:9, 2nd in Group E)

Group E was one of those groups that was tough to call pre-tournament and, given the season they were coming off of, many doubted whether Farjestad would advance. However, they managed to salvage some points with solid defence combined with some timely scoring and pulled out a couple of overtive victories to finish second and advance. A young team – built mainly of players from the province of Varmland as well as a few from across the border in Norway – that seems to be playing well as a unit right now, they won their first two SHL games and that is a good sign for this series with Lulea, which is a much more experienced team and one that knows how to win. 

Mikael

Johansson

1+3, +1

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Farjestad have decided to build their team around a core of Varmland origins this year, and Mikael “Magic Mike” Johansson is one of them. Throughout the group stage, he collected a total of 4 points and scoring points is exactly what his job on this team is. His strengths have always been his playmaking skills. Some other forwards that are known to produce offensively as well are Milan Gulas, Robbie Earl and John Persson.

 

Magnus

Nygren

0+2, +1

 

Top Defenceman: Farjestad have an extraordinary defensive line-up this year. Among the top seven defencemen, six have national team experience, either for Sweden or Norway. Magnus Nygren is another player of Varmland origin who has returned to Karlstad and, as maybe the biggest active Farjestad prodcut, has taken over the C from Ole Kristian Tollefsen. Nygren has his biggest strengths in the offensive part of the ice with a notorious slap shot, but most importantly, he plays with a huge heart for his team. Some other defencemen to keep an eye on is the Norwegian duo Jonas Holos and Tollefsen, who both have been part of the core in the Norwegian national team for several years. 

 

Justin

Pogge

95.65 %

 

Top Goaltender: Justin Pogge or Lars Haugen? It’s a tough question that coach Tommy Samuelsson has to ask himself before each game. They are both high quality goaltenders, but so far in the CHL, Pogge has been the better of the two, collecting one shutout and a save percentege of 95.65 through two games. Farjestad have a tradition of having two strong goaltenders, and this year is no exception.

 

Click here for team statistics.