Esbjerg Energy earned their first CHL point in a shootout loss to EV Zug, who have already clinched the Group G title. Read more in Gamecentre.

Twice EV Zug took the lead and twice Esbjerg Energy tied it. In between and after there were a lot of shots from Zug and a lot of saves from Mathias Seldrup, Esbjerg's 19-year-old goalie. Ultimately Zug won in a shootout, and Esbjerg game away with their first CHL point. 

Fabian Schnyder opened the scoring in the eighth minute, taking a cross-ice pass from Nolan Diem and firing it upstairs on Seldrup. Esbjerg evened the score on the power play before the midpoint of the period on a wraparound by Tyler Fiddler, but Josh Holden restored the Zug lead on the power play just seconds before the end of the period, deflecting a point shot from Rafael Diaz.

Zug did not score any more goals in the 45 minutes of hockey to follow, despite peppering Seldrup with 36 shots – 44 in total in the game. Six shots came from David McIntyre alone, and all of them dangerous chances, including a breakaway early in the third period.

Fiddler scored his second goal of the game in the 37th minute, again assisted by Soren Nielsen. After that, Esbjerg were just hanging on – and they did, right up utnil the shootout. 

In the shootout, Fabio Haller stopped all four Esbjerg shots he faced, while Sven Senteler and Holden both scored for Zug to give them the extra point. 

The point gained by Esbjerg was the only point lost by Zug in the group stage, which they are now finished. Esbjerg still have to play IFK Helsinki twice, and those games will determine the second team from Group G to advance.