Sweden are guaranteed to have at least one Quarter-Finalist from this matchup, after Skellefteå AIK and Djurgården Stockholm were drawn to face each other in the Round of 16.
Things went right down to the final day of the Group Stage for Skellefteå AIK who topped Group E despite a shootout loss on Game Day Six. With 11 points, the Swedish side topped their Group with two wins, two further wins in overtime and then another point gained from an overtime loss against Kärpät Oulu. Skellefteå had a number of players contribute to their success in the Group Stage, and both Joakim Lindström and Oscar Möller were two key players with three goals and two assists each, making up over half of the goals scored by the side.
"We’re playing against them in the SHL at the end of the month, and then in the CHL Playoffs shortly after that, so it’s going to be intense and a big challenge - we’re looking forward to it!"Tommy Samuelsson (Head Coach, Skellefteå AIK)
After failing to qualify for the Round of 16 last season, Djurgården Stockholm return amongst Europe’s elite and are ready to fight on. They had a very good Group Stage run that left them second-placed in Group G and in touching distance of first-placed Adler Mannheim. Their offensive and high-pressing style of hockey caught many opponents out, including Mannheim, who Djurgården beat 6-3 and inflicted their only loss of the season. Two players have shined for them over the course of the Group Stage and seemingly had a hand in all of Djurgården’s goals – Norwegian forward Michael Haga has scored three and assisted seven goals whilst his 23-year-old teammate Olle Allsing has been equally as deadly with three goals and six assists to his name.