After a week that saw six more teams qualify for the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League season, we’re now down to four spots left. The remaining open spots are in Slovakia, Norway, Denmark and Finland. We will get at least two of those this week, and possibly all four.
Check out who's already qualified here
The biggest question mark is still in Finland, where three teams are still in the hunt for one spot – IFK Helsinki and HPK Hämeenlinna are both still alive in the Liiga semi-finals and either could qualify for the CHL if they win the title. If not, it will go to TPS Turku. IFK Helsinki could be eliminated from that equation soon, as they trail Kärpät Oulu 3-2 in the series with game six tonight. HPK lead Tappara Tampere 3-2 with a chance to advance to the finals tonight.
Norway could get its champion tonight after game six of the finals, with Frisk Asker leading Storhamar Hamar 3-2 in the series. It would be the first title for Asker since 2002 and their first-ever berth in the CHL. If Storhamar stave off elimination, everything would be decided in a seventh game on Wednesday.
In Slovakia, HC'05 Banská Bystrica lead the Extraliga’s final series 3-1 over HK Nitra and have a chance to wrap up their third straight title – and third straight trip to the CHL – on Tuesday. That league will crown its champion by Saturday at the latest.
And in Denmark, Rungsted Ishockey lead SønderjyskE Vojens 2-0 in the Metal Ligaen finals. They could win the series – and their first ever CHL berth – as early as Friday. However, if SønderjyskE manage to win at least two games, the series will continue into next week.
Finally, although they had already qualified for the CHL by virtue of finishing second place in the British EIHL standings to the Belfast Giants – who are also Continental Cup champions – the Cardiff Devils have won the Elite League playoffs after a 2-1 victory over Belfast on Sunday.