A Game Day 2 match-up between Pinguins Bremerhaven and the Växjö Lakers saw the German side fall 5-0 to their hosts marking their first loss in the young CHL campaign. Now, the two sides prepare to clash once more, and this time Bremerhaven have home ice advantage. 

Bremerhaven continued their superb play against TPS Turku with a 3-0 victory that saw all three goals materializing in the final frame. Stanislav Dietz scored the game-winning goal and Jan Urbas was the most prolific player with two points on the night. In a game that saw little action after 40 minutes, it was the home side that delivered for their fans and boosted Bremerhaven to a 2-1 record. 

Turning back the clock to their first contest, it was, as one colleague wrote, “a goal-fest for the Växjö Lakers” who ended up bringing Bremerhaven back down to earth after the German side’s surprise win over Turku.  Växjö controlled the play from start to finish as they were able to take advantage of the Bremerhaven’s mistakes and come away with a convincing win.  

However, in their rematch against Sparta Prague it would be Växjö who finished on the losing side. After weathering the Czech side’s onslaught of shots for most of the match – at one point being outshot 22-8 – the Swedish side was handed its first loss in OT by a final of 2-1, with Martin Lundberg being the lone goal-scorer for the visitors.  

Now, both clubs enter Sunday’s affair 1 and 2 respectively in Group A with Bremerhaven having the chance to usurp the top spot with a win. A tough task is ahead of them, though, as the German side still needs to find a way to break through Växjö’s defence. The Swedish side, on the other hand, is hoping Sparta’s win was just an anomaly.