In the last games to end Tuesday, a few more teams emerged to fill some of the remaining playoff spots. Among them are Finnish clubs TPS Turku and JYP Jyvaskyla and Swiss clubs Fribourg-Gotteron and Geneve-Servette. Also, the Stavanger Oilers and HC Bolzano wrapped up eye-raising CHL campaigns with home-ice wins.
Linkoping HC 1–2 TPS Turku
Linkoping HC, who had already clinched top spot in Group F, turned in another strong home-ice performance and out-shot TPS Turku 32–20, but only got one puck past the goaltending duo of Teemu Lassila and Kristian Jarvinen. Mathias Sointu and Mikko Lehtonen scored for TPS, who grabbed the fifth and last wild-card spot for the round of 16.
HV71 Jonkoping 0–3 JYP Jyvaskyla
For most of the game they were out-played but JYP Jyvaskyla scored three goals in a 10-minute span in the second period to secure a second-place wild-card berth among the CHL's final 16 teams. Tuomas Tarkki was brilliant in goal, stopping all 30 shots he faced.
Fribourg-Gotteron 3–1 Djurgarden Stockholm
In the game to decide first place in Group D, Fribourg-Gotteron broke a 1–1 tie in the third period with two goals. Jeff Tambellini scored the game-winning goal while shorthanded with 14:49 on the clock and Sebastian Schilt added the lone insurance marker, as Fribourg advances to the next round.
"We knew that time was on our side as one point was enough to qualify for the playoffs," said Fribourg goalie Melvin Neffyler of the defensive style the team played. "I’ve got the feeling that in the CHL we've played much better on defence than in the national league. That's something we have to take with us into our next league games. One thing is clear, though: we want to go as far as possible in this competition. The CHL is important for us."
"For sure, we are really disappointed after tonight's game. We came here to take three points and that would have got us through, but it ended not the way we expected," said Djurgarden captain Henrik Eriksson. "We had a poor start, but then we improved over the course of the game. We created some very good chances but were unable to score. And in the end, we beat ourselves on special teams."
Stavanger Oilers 5–2 SC Bern
After a scorless first period, Visiting SC Bern jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the second, but Stavanger stormed back with five straight goals in the third to clinch second place in Group E. Dan Kissel led the offence with four points, Adrian Viedeman had three and Matthias Trettenes scored twice, including the game-winner shorthanded. Unfortunately, 11 points leave them just short of qualifying for the next round, but the Norwegian club was definitely one of the pleasant surprises of this CHL group stage.
Geneve-Servette 5–1 Briancon Diables Rouges
Geneve-Servette entered their last game needing just a point to guarantee a playoff spot, but got all three with a win over Briancon Diables Rouges. Cramo Top Scorer Matt D'Agostini added two goals to his total and captain Goran Bezina added two assists, while Ian McDonald's tally early in the second period for Briancon temporarily tied the game at 1.
"Our main goal was to advance to the next stage in the CHL and we succeeded. But it was not our best game," said D'Agostini. "I'm always happy to score goals and I'll do my best to do it more often. I am happy to be in Europe and live the CHL."
"I am very satisfied with our game," said Briancon coach Edo Terglov. "We had no chance to move forward, we were already eliminated. Our players were good, except at the end. We did not give up. The CHL is difficult for a team like ours. We were not ready for it. It's an experience I will never forget."
HC Bolzano 4–3 HC Pardubice
Lost in the mad scramble for playoff positions was an amazing comeback by HC Bolzano, who erased a two-goal third period deficit to win 4–3. Marco Insam scored twice in the final frame, including the game-winner on the power play with 4:37 to play, as Bolzano took nine out of 12 points in their last four CHL games. For Pardubice, a three-point effort from Cramo Top Scorer Lukas Radil was spoiled and it's a bitter end to a campaign in which they gained just a single point.
"Although it was our last game in the Champions Hockey League and we didn't have a chance to get out of last place, we wanted to go out honourably," said Pardubice coach Zdenek Venera. "We did this well for 40 minutes. Unfortunately, we lost it on the ice in the last period."
"Neither team had anything to gain from this game, but nevertheless both teams wanted to win," said Bolzano coach Mario Simioni. "I'm glad we won, mostly in what the team showed coming back from the 3–1 deficit. They never gave up. Today we saw that a lot can happen in 20 minutes of a hockey game."