In their last contest, Norwegian side Storhamar Hamar stunned Tappara Tampere with a quick tally in OT to take the game 2-1 and garner their second victory of the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League season. On the opposing bench, Graz99ers fell for a fifth-straight time, losing to SaiPa Lappeenranta by a 3-1 final.

The Austrians have had a tough go in their second CHL appearance as they've been unable to formulate any kind of consistency in any part of the rink. They straddle the lower echelons of the rankings in each category and have had serious difficulty generating any kind of offensive pressure - having only managed to tally eight markers through five games.

What's more concerning is the amount of goals given up as their average of 4.20 GAG is only slightly better than the league's worst average held by the Bordeaux Boxers (4.80 GAG). As they prepare to face a Storhamar team that's only averaging 2.20 GG, a better defensive presence could prove to be the thing that propels them to their first win.

The Norwegians' Sander Hurrød muscled a backhander into the net just under 30 seconds into OT to claim Storhamar's second win of the season on a night where the club did well to match Tappara's pace. But this has been their strength all season - keeping games close.

Through five games, Storhamar have kept the score to a one-goal difference in four out of five contests. The Norwegians' ability to do this against tough challengers including HC Davos and Genève-Servette serve to showcase the club's potential on both sides of the puck as they will look to secure maximum points in thie final Regular Season outing, but going up against a hungry team like Graz99ers poses its own challenge, and Storhamar will need a fast start to kill any momentum the Austrians are carrying into this tilt.