Two national champions of two neighbouring countries will face each other in a cross-border match-up featuring Austrian side Graz99ers and the hosting German powerhouse Eisbären Berlin. The puck drops on Friday at the Wellblechpalast in Germany’s capital for what is set to be a crucial game for the home team.

Playing in front of their home crowd, Berlin will look to leverage their devoted and passionate fan base to spark an offensive turnaround. The 27-time national champions are eager to put early-season difficulties behind them and deliver the fans their first win in this year’s season of the pan-European competition. It's a must at this point, as the reigning DEL champions enter Game Day 2 dead last in the Standings

On the other side stand the Graz99ers, who seek to overturn their fortunes after their initial setbacks, losing to Fribourg due to a tough late lapse followed by another defeat by Bordeaux, making this play a crucial opportunity to claim their first win in the current CHL season.

With crucial points at stake, expect a tightly contested battle where special-teams performance, discipline and good goaltending will ultimately determine which side secures their first points.