With Champions Hockey League group stage action getting back underway on Tuesday night, two former opponents renew acquaintances as the Växjö Lakers play host to the Cardiff Devils in Group G.

The two sides faced each other in last year’s tournament, with each team picking up a win each on home ice, but with the Devils out of the running to qualify out of the Group, Växjö will need to capitalise on their chances with two group games remaining to keep their hopes of qualifying from the group alive.

It’s been a rocky tournament for the Lakers so far, with just three points from four games - their only win coming against Red Bull Salzburg in their second game, and that’s exactly who they’re contending with to earn that second qualification spot.

SC Bern are already through, but with a six-point gap between Salzburg and Växjö, the Lakers will need all the help they can get from Bern, as any points earned by Salzburg will see them through to the next round, while Växjö would miss out on the knockout stages for the first time, just a year after making the CHL final.

Växjö have had a tough time of it, with all their losses coming with narrow one goal deficits, but with some high-power offensive weapons to utilise like Roman Horák, they’ll look to use that to their advantage against the Devils.

The Devils on the other hand will just look to cause an upset with their hopes of qualifying already over, but despite the team still searching for their first win, they’ve still impressed in a tough Group G, keeping their score lines close through their opening four games.

After dropping only one game in their domestic competition, Cardiff are continuing their dominance of the UK hockey scene with forward Matt Pope leading the charge. After last year’s trip to Sweden ended with a close 3 – 2 loss, they’ll be looking to go one better this time of asking.