Danish champions SønderjyskE Vojens have had a tough start to their schedule on their return to the Champions Hockey League, but hope for better luck on home ice against the Pinguins Bremerhaven from Germany, who were the DEL finalists last season.

Opening with two games on the road, SønderjyskE lost 3-0 to the Straubing Tigers and then 6-2 to ICE champions Red Bull Salzburg. Alexander Wiklund and Nikolaj Krag Christensen scored the goals in the second game. Defensive forward Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup has three blocked shots and two hits, and Danish defenceman Rasmus Lyø leads the team with an average of 20:45 time on ice per game. Goaltender Mattias Pettersson is second in the CHL so far with 72 saves through two games.

For Bremerhaven, Jan Urbas is the only player with two points, both assists. The Slovenian forward also leads the team with three blocked shots along with Max Görtz. Defenceman Matthew Abt leads with seven shots on goal, and Danish national team player Nicholas B. Jensen leads in ice time with 21:18. Latvian national team goalie Kristers Gudlevskis had a fantastic outing in which he stopped 36 of 38 shots, and the Pinguins are one of eight teams to have yet surrendered a powerplay goal against.

If SønderjyskE wish to get back into this CHL Playoffs race, they must see this two-game homestand as a must to collect a couple of wins. As for Bremerhaven, they’re above the Playoffs line but this is not the type of game where they can afford to lose points.