After a couple of weeks off, the Champions Hockey League returns next week as teams prepare for the end of the Group Stage, with most teams still battling to book their place in the Round of 16.
Following the opening four games, only four teams have booked their spot in the next round, with Group’s F and H already seeing their qualification spots booked up, however, there is still plenty to play for in those and the rest of the 2021/22 groups.
In Group F, Fribourg-Gottéron and Leksands IF are level on points with 12 each, both with perfect records, but it’s set to be a thrilling clash between the two sides over the next two games, as they both look to secure top spot with two nail-biting games against each other.
In Group H, Red Bull Salzburg are in the driver's seat after a perfect start to the season, with four wins from four, however, HC Bolzano are just three points behind them, and even though they’ve already qualified, they’ll be wanting to snatch top spot. They’ll need to pick up one regulation win to draw level on points, and then a win of any kind would see them leapfrog Salzburg.
But what about the rest of the Groups? With two games left, what do the teams in those groups need to do to advance?
Group A
Pinguins Bremerhaven – Currently top with nine points, two regulation wins will see them advance from top spot, and a regulation win against Sparta Prague on Game Day 5 will mean they are guaranteed to advance.
Växjö Lakers and Sparta Prague – Växjö are currently in second place but tied with Sparta, Växjö can get closer to qualifying if they win against TPS Turku in the first of the next two games and Sparta lose, then they’ll need to pick up just one more point to secure their place. It's a similar case for Sparta.
If both lose their next game, Sparta need to pick up more points than Växjö in the final game, as Växjö have the head-to-head advantage.
TPS Turku – It’s a mountain to climb for Turku, they’re not out of it, but they need two regulation wins, and results to go their way. If they can beat Växjö twice in regulation, and have Sparta lose to Bremerhaven twice in regulation as well, that puts them level on points with Växjö and Sparta, and then it comes down to head-to-head and the rest of the tie-breaking rules.
Big task ahead, but not impossible.
Group B
Frölunda Gothenburg and IFK Helsinki – The reigning CHL Champions Frölunda aren’t through yet, but in top spot heading into the final two games. They're tied on points with Helsinki so it’s going to be a huge two games between the two sides as they battle to not only qualify but for top spot.
Two wins for either side in regulation or overtime will put one of them through, with the other having to worry about ZSC Lions Zurich trying to force their way into the Round of 16.
A win each wouldn’t be enough either.
ZSC Lions Zurich – Zurich will be watching what happens between Frölunda and Helsinki carefully, with the potential of dropped points, Zurich are just one point behind and if they can get two wins in regulation, that will be enough to see them leapfrog either Helsinki or Frölunda depending on the result of their contests.
If they lose the first game in regulation, they’re not out, but will need to pick up at least a point from their second game and hope that either Frölunda or Helsinki beat the other twice in regulation so that Zuruch are drawn level on points with the loser. Then it comes down to head-to-head.
The Swiss side have the better head-to-head against Frölunda, but not against Helsinki.
BK Mladá Boleslav – The Czech side fought valiantly, but they are definitely out of Playoffs contention for this season and are unable to qualify.
Group C
Adler Mannheim and Lukko Rauma – Both sides have some breathing room. Both teams are on eight points with a three-point gap to third place.
Mannheim take on third place Lausanne so a win in either regulation or overtime in their first meeting means they are guaranteed to advance.
It's a similar situation for Lukko - if they beat the Cardiff Devils then they’re through.
Lausanne HC – Lausanne need a win to stay alive. The ideal scenario is both Mannheim and Lukko lose in regulation to bring them level on points. Either way, they need to beat Mannheim to stay in the hunt, if they can do that and then win again they’ll overtake Mannheim and they’ll advance regardless of what Lukko do.
If they lose to Mannheim, they need results - mainly Lukko to lose to Cardiff twice and Lausanne themselves need to end the Group Stage on more points than Lukko, because they have an inferior head-to-head.
Cardiff Devils – The Cardiff Devils need two regulation wins against Lukko Rauma and then they’ll overtake them, however, they’ll also need Mannheim to help them out by beating Lausanne at least once in regulation, whilst Cardiff record two regulation wins to advance. Similar to Group A with TPS Turku, it’s a tough ask but if it’s mathematically possible, then it’s not impossible.
Group D
Red Bull Munich – Two regulation wins secure top spot, one regulation win and one overtime or shootout win guarantees they advance, but two overtime or shootout wins might not be enough.
If they lose to EV Zug in the first game, they’ll fall behind their Swiss opponents, so would need a win in regulation on the final Game Day to advance.
Rögle Ängelholm – With two games against a winless SønderjyskE side coming up, you could assume that Rögle have a chance of racking up more important points. If that is the case, they advance, but SønderjyskE will want to avoid going winless so it won’t be an easy test.
Two regulation wins and they’re through, one in regulation and one in overtime and they’ll still squeeze through, even if Zug win in regulation twice, thanks to a better head-to-head against Zug.
But anything less than that and they could be out.
EV Zug - If they can beat Rögle's record by a point, their current goal difference would see them through. A regulation win and a regulation Rögle loss puts them ahead, and then they need to win in regulation or overtime to stay ahead.
SønderjyskE Vojens – Unable to qualify
Group E
Tappara Tampere – One regulation win is enough, if they win in overtime they can still afford to lose in overtime in their second game and they’ll still advance. Two regulation wins is ideal for them though to top theie group with ease.
HC Lugano – Two wins against Berlin would put them through, they need to match Skellefteå’s record and they’ll stay ahead and progress thanks to a better head-to-head.
Skellefteå AIK – It’s a tough contest against Tappara but two wins in regulation see’s them through in second place at least. If they lose in their first game, they need Lugano to lose as well. If they lose and Lugano win in overtime, then they’re out.
Eisbären Berlin – The only way Berlin progress is with two regulation wins and some luck in the form of favourable results elsewhere. Berlin just need to focus on their games and hope the rest falls into place.
Group G
KAC Klagenfurt – They’re all but through at this point, an overtime win against Donbass will be enough to advance, even an overtime loss and favourable results could see them advance. They can’t be caught in the first game, so a loss wouldn’t be the end of the world, but they’ll still need to pick up at least one point in their second game against Donbass to advance.
HC Donbass Donetsk – Two regulation wins are ideal, anything else they’ll need some help. They have two teams to worry about. Anything other than two regulation wins and they’ll need Rungsted and Rouen to help them out. If they lose one game, they have to win the other otherwise they’re at risk.
Rungsted Seier Capital – Same as Donbass, two regulation wins are the ideal scenario, anything else and it could be trouble. They need at least one regulation win to help them avoid being leapfrogged. If both they and Donbass get two regulation wins, then they both go through, if both they and Donbass get two overtime wins, then it’ll come down to head-to-head as to who get’s the second place spot behind Klagenfurt and that's in Rungsted's favour.
Rouen Dragons – They can still qualify. If they can pick up two regulation wins they finish on ten points and would finish ahead of Rungsted, then they’ll need help from Klagenfurt to finish ahead of Donbass as well.