With their 3-2 shootout win over Dynamo Pardubice, the Sheffield Steelers ended the Regular Season on a high note and became only the second EIHL club to qualify for the CHL Playoffs and the first to do so under the new competition format. Their opponents, Eisbären Berlin, secured their own victory on Game Day 6, netting a whopping eight tallies en route to an 8-0 shutout against Danish challengers SønderjyskE Vojens. Both clubs sport a 4-2 record through six contests as the German side return to the Round of 16 for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.

Following their Game Day 1 defeat at the hands of the Växjö Lakers, Berlin went on to claim three games in a row. During that span, they potted ten tallies and only allowed three goals against. Notwithstanding their 9-3 collapse against Swiss side Fribourg-Gottéron, the Germans have been one of the better defensive squads of the 2024/25 Champions Hockey League campaign. Their 2.50 goals against per game has them among the league leaders in the category and they're the only team to have posted two shutouts in the Regular Season.

Despite their decent defensive numbers at 5-on-5, one area the Germans should prioritise as they get set to take on Sheffield is their PK as they currently sit in 20th place with a 74.07 PK%. Fixing their flaws on special teams could see the Germans on to the next leg of the competition as their offence has proven that it is more than capable of helping Berlin win hockey games.

Sheffield also succeeded in turning the page after their Game Day 1 loss as they went on to manufacture three consecutive victories, upsetting two CHL Finalists in the process in Sparta Prague and Skellefteå AIK. For the British side, being the underdog has been a driving force behind their aggressive play which oftentimes sees Sheffield taking risks with their quick transition game. It was a swift up-ice rush that saw them seal the victory on the powerplay in OT against the Växjö Lakers and that playstyle has been more of a blessing than a curse for the British.

Now as they prepare to take on their first German opponents of the competition, Sheffield would do well to make sure their brazen play doesn't get the best of them as Berlin have been successful in shutting down lanes and closing the gaps. Pending the British side's ability to navigate all three zones with their aggression, their chances of continuing on to the Quarter-Finals become that much better.