HC Košice are still alive in the race to get a Playoff spot in the Champions Hockey League this season, but they’re running out of games to pick up enough points so they’re really going to have to win this home game against Skellefteå AIK.

As for the visitors from northern Sweden, they currently sit in 11th place but their situation is anything but secure – just one point ahead of the cut-off line – so any points gained on the road would be most welcome. 

Skellefteå’s biggest problem to this point has been capitalising on scoring chances. They’re fifth-highest in expected goals per game with 14.26 but have scored just 12, and their powerplay is firing at just 9.25% – 18th in the CHL. And while Košice have had trouble scoring, their defence has been adequate and their penalty-killing has been an impressive 92.86%. 

Leading Skellefteå’s offence is Linus Lindström with five points, followed by Pär Lindholm with four. With three goals on five shots, Martins Dzierkals’ shooting percentage of 60.00 is the highest among any player with at least five shots. Young defenceman Elias Salomonsson is tied for the tournament lead with seven hits. 

Chase Berger and Mário Lunter lead Košice with three points each. Defenceman Jens Olsson ranks fifth in TOI average at 24.04, while Jaroslav Janus has played three of Košice’s four games and ranks seventh in the competition with 93 saves. 

Since they last played in the CHL, both teams have begun their domestic seasons. Through eight SHL games, Skellefteå are tied for fourth in the standings with 14 points. Most recently, they were shut out 2-0 by the Växjö Lakers on Saturday. Košice also lost domestically in their most recent game, falling in a shootout at home to HKM Zvolen on Sunday. Through eight games, they sit fifth with 13 points.