Both Oceláři Třinec and Brynäs IF are in the CHL Quarterfinals for the first time. For Třinec, this is their third appearance in the European championship, with Brynäs qualifying for the first time this season. Both teams made it by reaching the semifinals of their respective leagues. Now, both will try to reach Europe’s final four, but only one of them will. This two-game set pits Třinec’s stingy defence and goaltending against the explosive offence of Brynäs.

In this year’s competition, Třinec have feasted on Swedish opponents, taking 10 of 12 possible points against HV71 Jönköping in the Group Stage and the Malmö Redhawks in the Round of 16. Brynäs have yet to face a Czech team.

Domestically, Třinec are third place in the 14-team Extraliga with 51 points in 29 games. The team battled through injuries for much of November but now seems to be back to full strength. After a poor start in the SHL, Brynäs have risen to 10th place in the 14-team SHL, currently riding a four-game winning streak. They’re coming off a 2-1 win over the leading Växjö Lakers on Saturday.

Defence has been the key to Třinec’s success in the CHL this season with only 10 goals against in eight games. Amazingly, Šimon Hrubec has played in seven of those games and allowed only five goals, giving him a remarkable 0.71 goals-against average and 97.24 save percentage. In the CHL, they’re led offensively by a trio of players with seven points each – Martin Růžička, Martin Adamský and Jiří Polanský. Růžička also leads them with 34 points in 26 Extraliga games.

With 30 goals in eight games, Brynäs are tied for second in total offence in the CHL, and tied for first with Liberec among the eight teams remaining. What’s more, their deep in scoring ability with nine players having five points or more. They’re led by Kevin Clark’s nine points and Linus Ölund’s eight. Aaron Palushaj, who leads the team with 22 points in the SHL, has five in the CHL. Unfortunately, Daniel Paille, who has seven CHL points, is out of the lineup. Also out of the lineup is goaltender Felix Sandström, which means the starting job likely goes to David Rautio.