Genève-Servette

Genève-Servette might not be top of the Regular Season Standings but the reigning Swiss champions have shaken off a surprise 5-2 loss to HC Innsbruck on Game Day 1 and have gone 3/3 since then. 

Genève are the second-highest scoring team of Game Days 1-4, having scored a combined 20 goals in four games, including netting a whopping nine against the Rouen Dragons in their last outing. 

Their penalty kill has been superb, killing off a solid 93.33% of chances, as has their goaltending which has been top-notch since that dark day in Innsbruck. 

The only kink in their armour is their powerplay unit which is only operating at 5.56% but hey, even the best of the best have room for improvement.

Ilves Tampere

The Finns have been one of the teams to beat so far this season and got off to a blazing start with two wins on the road over Dynamo Pardubice and HC Bolzano in which they let in only two goals while scoring a solid 10.

Oceláři Třinec proved a tougher nut to crack but two third-period goals from super D-man Les Lancaster (5G+1A) won them a huge three points on their home game debut of the season. 

Next up were Vítkovice Ridera, Ilves' third Czech opponents of the season. A poor start to the game saw the Finns trailing 0-2 after the first period but a second-period goal on a 5-on-3 powerplay and another two or so minutes later saw the game tied 2-2 but no game-winner would come in regulation or OT so the game headed to a shootout.

Lancaster and club Top Scorer Šimon Stránský (1G+6A) scored in the one-on-one to win their team the extra point and secure a place in the 2023/24 Playoffs!

One of the keys to Ilves' success has been their powerplay which has been scoring on 26.67% of their man-advantages, while solid goaltending from Jonas Gunnarsson (94.74 % Save Percentage in three games) has kept them in games when they've needed it.

Växjö Lakers

Reigning SHL champions the Växjö Lakers also got their 2023/24 campaign off to a positive start, beating the Lahti Pelicans 5-1 on the road and exit Game Day 4 unbeaten and qualified for the Playoffs.

The Swedes have scored a league-high of 21 goals, one third of that total hitting the net against the Stavanger Oilers on Game Day 2. Their powerplay and penalty kill units have mediocre numbers but have been effective when called upon. 

They've also been strong in defence and in net where Emil Larmi (over 97% save percentage in two games + 1 shutout) has split goaltending duties with Adam Åhman, letting in only nine goals combined for a goal difference of +12 - another league-high.

Växjö seem to have everything in place to take the CHL by storm!

Be sure to return next week for more of our Top 3 series!