The Rouen Dragons were handed a tough loss against DEL challenger ERC Ingolstadt in their Game Day 1 fixture despite a strong effort in the opening frame. The French battled back in the second, but a three-goal third earned Ingolstadt a 5-3 victory and now Rouen will be looking to right what went wrong. For the Lahti Pelicans, their home opener was anything but what they could’ve hoped for as they were lashed by visiting side the Växjö Lakers in a 5-1 final.

Penalties combined with a poor penalty kill cost Lahti their tilt against the Swedes in this one-sided contest. The second period saw the Finnish side test the opposing netminder on several attempts, and eventually get on the board with a tally from Lars Bryggman. But the hosts’ lack of discipline and inability to find the net resulted in Växjö maintaining their lead and eventually adding to it.

As they prepare for their bout with Rouen, players like Aatu Jämsen and Ryan Lasch will need to be the catalysts that drive the offence. Lasch registered an assist in 16 minutes of ice time, but Jämsen - who was third in scoring last season - failed to find the scoresheet. Minimizing their minutes in the penalty box will also play a factor in cementing a win against a French squad that posted three powerplay goals.

For Rouen, defence leading to offence could be the strategy best utilised in their Game Day 2 fixture. The French were heavily outshot and this was no more apparent than in the final stanza when Ingolstadt scored three goals, including one on the powerplay and two in the span of four minutes. Sacha Guimond highlighted this stretch as a disappointment for his club, saying, "We pushed them all game but the last 20 really hurt us."

Fortunately for the French, all three goals came on the man-advantage as the French were awarded eight powerplay opportunities. However, firing 15 shots on goal over a 60-minute game with that many powerplays should be a cause for concern. Getting back to a stable, consistent offensive attack that saw Rouen average five goals per game in Ligue Magnus is what the French side should be focused on.