With just over a week to go until the Champions Hockey League Final in Gothenburg, we take a look at how both finalists are faring in their own leagues.

CHL News

Sparta Prague have been on a decent roll of late, which has seen them climb up to inside the Czech Extraliga's top three. A loss to Vitkovice Ostrava on 24 January was the Spartans' only defeat since 8 January in all competitions – winning seven games since then, including the two over the Vaxjo Lakers in the CHL Semi-Finals.

This week, Sparta laid down a marker for the rest of the league with two big wins over the teams above them – first, defeating league leaders Bili Tygri Liberec 4-3 in a shootout after tying the game with just two minutes to go, and then thumping second-placed Ocelari Trinec 12-3! Captain Jarolsav Hlinka led the offensive assault with 2 assists against Liberec and 3 goals against Trinec. The wins lift Sparta into third place, although they are only two points ahead of Kometa Brno in sixth.

In Sweden, Frolunda Gothenburg continue to lead the SHL but their advantage over the rest of the league has been cut to just two points thanks to Vaxjo's excellent recent form. For their part, the Indians have only won two of their last five SHL matches, losing to the Lakers, Skelleftea AIK and Brynas Gavle with one-goal wins over Karlskrona and Rogle sandwiched in between. The win over Rogle was needed, after the Bynas defeat saw Frolunda give up three straight third period goals to lose 4-2. Interestingly, all of the Indians' last four games have been decided by just a single goal, except the loss to Brynas where an empty-netter gave the visitors a two-goal victory.

Ahead of next week's Final, Frolunda are on the road in Vaxjo this Thursday and then home to another former CHL team in Farjestad on Saturday. Sparta, meanwhile, have a slightly more packed schedule, playing Tuesday in Hradec Kralove, then home to Olomouc and Chomutov on Friday and Sunday, respectively.