Both of these teams are most likely pleased with what they accomplished in their first two Group D games. Třinec took the maximum 6 points at home, outscoring Esbjerg and Mannheim 12-1, while Mannheim earned a surprising win in Jönköping and gave a decent effort in Třinec, where they ran into goaltender Šimon Hrubec. Now they get another chance at Oceláři on home ice in front of what is expected to be a large and lively crowd.

“The Czech team had a strong goalie and better special teams and that was the difference - they scored on their opportunities and we didn’t,” Mannheim head coach Sean Simpson said about his team’s 3-0 loss in Třinec. “We had enough chances to score a few goals but they didn’t want to go in. That’s what happens when you run into a hot goalie.”

Hrubec worked hard for the shutout, saying: “It was a very close game and any goal for Mannheim could have brought them back into it. Tough game - I worked really hard to keep us ahead of them.” It likely won’t get any easier for him in Mannheim.