This is the closest match-up of the Round of 16 as it sees two teams that finished with the same number of points (11 each) and neck-and-neck in the Regular Season Standings (Mannheim 8th, Tappara 9th). However, while Mannheim took four wins from their opening six games of the European season, Tappara only managed a 3-3 record (though two of their losses were in OT).

Starting with the Finns, it's been a bit of a hit-and-miss season so far, with the reigning Liiga champions struggling both at home and on the road. They picked up wins over Bílí Tygři Liberec, the Växjö Lakers and GKS Tychy on Game Day 6, played two very close games against Kölner Haie and Storhamar Hamar - losing both in OT - but were completely blanked 4-0 by Rögle Ängelholm.

Key points to take away from their play so far is that their special units (28% PP and nearly 94% PK) have been very strong and are a key asset to the way they operate - heck, Tappara have held off all but one powerplay against them! They've been strong early into games, but have dropped results in the final period one two many times and it's been a 0/2 situation outside of regulation - concentration and the strength to hold on down to the final buzzer need to be improved on! Team of the Regular Season forward Aapeli Räsänen (5G, 4A) and Benjamin Rautiainen (3G, 5A) have been their strongest scorers and will without doubt be looked towards again come the Playoffs.

Though Adler Mannheim lack Tappara's sparkling PP and PK numbers (20% PP and 75% PK so far for die Adler), the DEL side ready to skate our for their fifth-straight appearance in the Round of 16 best the Finns with a CHL-leading face-off win percentage of nearly 64%! 

Mannheim took three back-to-back wins between Game Days 3 and 5 - beating a trio of reigning national champions in the form of Fribourg-Gottéron, GKS Tychy and the Bordeaux Boxers - and have generally impressed with the depth of their squad. Most of their players have scored at least one point, with Team of the Regular Season D-man Nicolas Mattinen leading the lot, while their entire blue line has been a valuable source of offensive power, being generally more productive and involved than Tappara's.

With all lines firing, Mannheim are a tough opponent to prepare for and with two wins at home, could give Tappara, who have been a bit inconsistent, a tough First Game in this series. However, we must address the big elephant in the room and that is the fact that Mannheim have never made it past the Round of 16 in the CHL, while Tappara are one-time European Club Champions and two-time CHL Finalists. 

Don't miss this series that is bound to test two of Europe's strongest and most traditional teams who know each other well from past encounters!