Sparta's Thorell and Skellefteå's Kühnhackl after their Round of 16 first leg game

Sparta Prague had a dream start to their Champions Hockey League Playoffs return – the Czech Extraliga side last played in the CHL Playoffs in 2016/17, but picked up right where they left off, beating a strong Skellefteå AIK side 3-1 in their Round of 16 first leg game.

It was a big night for one of Sparta’s biggest pre-season signings, Erik Thorell. The Swedish playmaker moved to Sparta from EV Zug with four seasons of CHL experience under his belt, but hasn’t tapped into that experience so far this season, until yesterday that was.

Thorell opened his scoring sheet with an assist, his first CHL point of the season, before adding a goal to his name in the final period.

“It was good to win,” started Thorell.

“The second period probably wasn’t our best but we had a lead heading into the third,” he said referring to Sparta’s second period drop off in activity.

The Czechs opened the scoring one minute into the game and exchanged blows with their opponents during the first period, but Skellefteå were the more dominant team in the second period and tied the game 1-1 only four minutes in.

Sparta got back into the driver’s seat thanks to Tomáš Pavelka’s goal at 39:46 and that seemed to kick the team back into gear.

Thorell found the back of the net at 50:18 as Sparta, now back in the game, edged out an important win on the road.

Erik Thorell celebrating his goal (Photo: Bert Söderström)

“In the third period I think we played much better – we controlled the game,” said Thorell.

Before heading out for the final period, the team were told to “keep them (Skellefteå) outside and control the puck a litter bit better,” indicated Thorell.

Tom Kühnhackl, one of Skellefteå’s forwards, was disappointed and surprised by the result of the game, “We played a good game but couldn’t capitalise on our chances,” he said.

“I thought we played one of our best games in a while, but it was just one of those games where they capitalised on their chances and we didn’t.”

“We made some costly mistakes and they took advantage of them.”

We just have to play the same way as we did today Tom Kühnhackl, Skellefteå AIK

So what does Kühnhackl think his side need to change ahead of the return game in Prague?

“Nothing.”

“I think we just have to play the same way as we did today and get another solid sixty minutes in Prague. Then we’ll have a pretty solid chance of winning the game,” he concluded.

Thorell is also anticipating the return leg in Sparta’s legendary home arena, the Tipsport Arena, on Tuesday 23 November at 18:00: “It’s going to be a tough game, but hopefully we can get a win in front of our fans as well,” he said.