KAC Klagenfurt have one foot in what would be their first ever Champions Hockey League Quarter-Finals appearance, and Leksands IF have it all to do going into Tuesday's Round of 16 Return Game. The Austrian side hit four without reply to claim a shutout victory that leave Leksand in need of an audacious comeback performance on home ice to avoid elimination. 

Leksand outshot Klagenfurt but couldn’t find a way past Sebastian Dahm, who turned away all 36 shots he faced. Klagnefurt bagged a goal in each of the opening two periods before adding two more in the final frame.

Any fight back from the Swedes will have to come without the aid of defenceman Patrik Norén, who joins a number of previously sidelined players after sustaining an injury in that first game, but Leksand are boosted by the news that star forward Max Veronneau has agreed a contract extension with the SHL team. The Canadian first-liner has registered one goal and three assists in seven games in the CHL this season and will be key to Leksand's hopes of advancing.

Klagenfurt also have injury problems to content with and the status of leading goal scorer Johannes Bischofberger is unknown, after he missed both of their Austrian ICE Hockey League victories over the weekend. Bischofberger scored twice in the 4-0 win over Leksand to double his tally for the campaign. Joint-leading point scorer Nicholas Petersen (3G, 4A) is also expected to remain out.

Could a dramatic swing in momentum be on the cards for hosts Leksand?