The Lahti Pelicans are making their second consecutive Round of 16 appearance as they prepare to take on Red Bull Salzburg who are returning to the Playoffs after missing them last year for the first time in their Champions Hockey League tenure.
- Lahti's defence one of the few question marks for the Finns
- Salzburg's Peter Schneider has been on point for the Austrians
- The Finns have the better powerplay while the Austrians have the better penalty kill
Through six contests, the two ended the first phase of this Champions Hockey League close to each other in the Regular Season Standings with Red Bull Salzburg ending in eighth place while the Lahti Pelicans ended in ninth with both sides sporting near identical numbers in several categories. Each boast a 4-2 record where the Finns have managed to net 24 goals while the Austrians scored 20; Lahti also have a slight lead in powerplay conversion, but the Austrians have been the better penalty killers.
In their last tilt, the Finnish side dismantled the Rouen Dragons in a 10-1 victory. Lahti averaged over three goals per period and converted on five powerplay opportunities while defenceman Wyatt Kalynuk had a career night, securing five points (1G, 4A) en route to the victory. Over their six-game Regular Season, Lahti have posted three or more goals four times putting them among the league leaders in goals for per game with 4.00.
Fortunately for the Finns, they have a bevy of scoring talent dressing for them complimented by experience in the form of CHL legend Ryan Lasch who has three points in as many contests so far this season.
It seems the fate of Salzburg is inextricably connected to how well Peter Schneider plays. Following a disappointing 2023/24 season that saw the 33-year-old muster one point through six games and the Austrians experience their first-ever exit from the CHL at this phase of the competition, Schneider has returned to form and so, too, has his club. The Austrian forward currently leads the club in points scored with eight (4G, 4A) and has been one of four players to manage a point-per-game pace for Salzburg.
Salzburg have slipped recently, as they went from winning 3/4 CHL games in September to winning one of their two ties in the pan-European competition in October.
As the reigning ICE champions prepare to take on a Lahti side that is giving up an average of 3.00 goals against per game, the Austrians would do well to exploit the Finns' defence, while Lahti will hope to have sealed the gaps by now. Expect a very close game between these two!