Skellefteå AIK and Eisbären Berlin are the bottom two teams in Group E and are therefore both enter Game Day 4 desperate for a win. In fact, even after Sunday’s encounter they will still be the bottom two teams, but at least one of them can improve their position.

So far, Skellefteå have lost twice to HC Lugano and their three points all come from their Game Day 2 encounter with Berlin, which they won 5-3 in the German capital. In that game, Berlin led 2-0 and 3-2 but ultimately fell 5-3. Matthew White scored twice for Berlin and Rickard Hugg twice for Skellefteå, the second into an empty net in the last minute. Berlin’s only point so far comes from Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss to Tappara Tampere – another game in which they blew a two-goal lead.

Skellefteå’s leading scorer through three games is Adam Mascherin with a goal and four assists. So far, Skellefteå’s biggest downfall has been defence, giving up 13 goals in three games. Gustaf Lindvall has played in two games and Strauss Mann in one, but they both have goals-against averages over four and save percentages under 90.

The aforementioned White is Berlin’s top scorer with four points, all goals. Linemate Zach Boychuk has three assists. Matthias Niederberger and Tobias Ancicka have split the action down the middle in goal. Similar to Skellefteå’s situation, both goalies have goals-against averages over four and save percentages under 90.

Add that up and, if you’ve watched these teams play at all to this point, we can expect lots of goals and maybe a few lead changes. As mentioned, Skellefteå with three points and Berlin with one are the two outside teams looking in halfway through the Group Stage, but winning this game could be a long way to improving their respective situations heading into the final home-and-away games.

After this game, Skellefteå have two remaining games against Tappara, while Berlin play twice agianst Lugano.