Both the Gap Rapaces and ZSC Lions were close in their first Group H games, but neither was able to come up with a win, although Zurich did get a point in Gothenburg. Their coach is pleased with that but feels they could have got more.

“I don’t think anybody thought we would steal a point from the defending champions, so it’s a big point, but we’re still a few weeks away from playing at the level that it’s going to take to put away a team like that,” Zurich bench boss Hans Wallson said afterward. “We were moving well for 25 to 30 minutes, but we’re just not where we want to be yet.”

As for the Rapaces, they fed off the energy from their home fans and managed to claw back to within one goal against Klagenfurt. They’ll have that home support behind them again against Zurich, but they also have a high-calibre opponent with a lot more offensive firepower.