It's no chance these two European heavyweights are in CHL Final 2026. A quick look at the CHL Statistics Leaderboard shows these two SHL foes at the very peak of most stats, often seperated by mere points, and Frölunda and Luleå also hold their own when looking deeper. What differentiates them from one another?

Putting their equal 34 goals scored aside, Frölunda edge their opponents in goals against per game, having let just 19 goals hit their net in 12 games played compared to Luleå's 25, making the hosts of the 2026 Final the team with the better defence and goaltending on paper heading into the last game of the calendar.

Both sides have been in form from the get-go, with Luleå, who finished the highly-competitive Regular Season in 9th place, heading into the Final on a four-game winning streak in the CHL, while Frölunda, who were 3rd in the Regular Season, unbeaten in the same amount of games played.

Luleå's special team play has been stellar, especially their penalty kill units which have been some of the very best we've seen all season. Their CHL-high 35.55 Expected Goals created also makes them the more active team up front heading into the all-or-nothing game in March - watch out Frölunda!

Face-off win % is very close (50.77% vs. 51.61%), but also edges ever so slightly in Luleå's favour, but Frölunda get them back on powerplay stats, as they have a 23.08% success rate on the man-advantage, while Luleå have a 17.5% record.

Frölunda have recorded two shutouts this season, one each for goalie tandem Tobias Normann and Lars Johansson, while Luleå's Matteus Ward boasts his side's sole shutout of 2025/26, having recorded it against Ilves Tampere in the Quarter-Finals Return Game on the road in Finland.

Given the hosting rights of CHL Final 2026 being awarded to higher-ranked Frölunda, a look at Luleå's away record and Frölunda's home form are worth a mention. The visitors in Gothenburg's Scandinavium have only won 3/6 away games so far this season, while Frölunda have only lost on home ice once. Just numbers or a trend in the making?

Despite commanding their seasons, it's natural both sides have slipped on occasion. Luleå's biggest loss of the 2025/26 CHL season to date was their 5-3 road defeat to reigning Czech Extraliga champions Kometa Brno in the Round of 16 (important to add that it was the second leg of a series the Swedes took a 6-1 lead in the week earlier), while Frölunda's biggest defeat was when they fell 4-2 to Sparta Prague back on Game Day 4. 

All in all, it looks like it's impossible to split these two deserving contenders for the European Trophy this season. Be sure to return later this week to see how their star players and goalies stack up when put into focus!