Last week on home ice, the Augsburg Panther built themselves a 2-0 lead early in the second period but watched it evaporate in the third as EHC Biel-Bienne came on strong to score twice and equalize the score at 2-2. The Panther got their goals in the first minute of both the first and second periods and in the game fired 40 shots at Elien Paupe, who kept his team close enough to manage the comeback. That puts the teams level on aggregate as they head to Switzerland for the second leg.

This season has been inconsistent at best for Augsburg, who went into the first game mired in a slump, but after the strong showing against Biel-Bienne, beat reigning DEL champions Adler Mannheim 4-1 on Friday night. However, that was followed by a disappointing 7-4 loss to the Krefeld Pinguine – with whom they are tied for 11th place in the standings – two nights later. With a win in Switzerland, they will try to not only get their season back on track but also advance to the CHL Quarter-Finals. That will be easier said than done, however.

In Augsburg, Biel-Bienne certainly didn’t have the start they wanted but showed character and resilience to get themselves back on even terms in the late going and setting themselves up to just need a win at home to advance. The tight game was nothing new for Biel-Bienne, who since then beat Lausanne HC 3-2 and then lost 3-2 to EV Zug in National League competition. Like Biel-Bienne, both of those teams play at home this week and are vying for a spot in the CHL Quarter-Finals.