Genève-Servette secured their second consecutive win in a dominant 6-1 defeat over Italian side HC Bolzano. This was the Swiss side's first Champions Hockey League home game since the 2015/16 season. After allowing 13 goals through the first two contests, Matija Pintarič betrayed no signs of doubt, stopping all 31 Skellefteå shots, including 14 in the final frame to stun Swedish side Skellefteå AIK with a 1-0 shutout and help the Rouen Dragons' to their first three points of the tournament.

Coming into this match-up with the Swiss, the French, who have allowed the fourth-most goals against, should look to hammer out the kinks in their defence. If not for Pintarič’s play, the results could have been decidedly different, so cementing things on the backend should be a priority.

To that end, Rouen have also had trouble with the puck on their stick as they sit tied for 15th, averaging 2.33 goals for per game. Their stars in Francis Perron, Rolands Vigners, and Antonín Honejsek have all secured multiple points, but more contributions from the middle and bottom-six forwards could be a difference maker.

Meanwhile, Genève have been humming in their past two contests, and looking more and more like the Swiss champions that nabbed their first national title. So far through three games, Genève are among the top ten teams in the league, ranking third in goals for with 11, seventh in goals per game with 3.67, and fifth in penalty kill percentage with 92.31%.

Their forward corps has also looked impressive with four players already securing three points and ten players earning at least one, but the real star has been former NHLer Sami Vatanen who has compiled four helpers through three games.

The Swiss side’s glaring defect, however, has been their inability to convert on the powerplay. With just one tuck on 14 attempts, Genève will need to address their attack with the extra man. Fortunately, Rouen’s 18th-ranked penalty kill should provide a prime opportunity for the Swiss to get their legs going on the man-advantage.