With just one game remaining in the Group Stage of the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League, it was truly all on the line when Bílí Tygři Liberec hosted Augsburger Panther in Group C action. A win last night for Luleå Hockey over the Belfast Giants secured top spot for the Swedish side, so it shaped up to be a crucial tie for these two sides. Just a point would be enough for Augsburg to go through, while Liberec needed a regulation win to keep their hopes alive.

Augsburg came out strong in the first period, opening the scoring less than three minutes in as Patrick McNeill took a quick shot from the point took a wicked deflection of a defenseman to put the visitors ahead. Just a few minutes later, Liberec found a response as Libor Hudáček found the top corner past Olivier Roy to make it 1-1. As the teams looked destined to go into the first intermission with things all square, Liberec didn’t quit as Hudáček shot through traffic with two seconds left, and despite getting a little bit on the puck, Roy couldn’t deny Liberec’s top scorer from making it 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Liberec started the period strong, testing Olivier Roy early and benefitting from some wayward passing by the Augsburg defence, but despite their best efforts they couldn't find a third in the early goings of the middle frame. Liberec stood firm defensively especially as they ran into penalty trouble, but eventually Augsburg found their second, a shot through traffic by Simon Sezemsky found the back of the net to tie things up, setting up an interesting third period, with 20 minutes to decide who advances to the next round.

Augsburger were the happier of the two teams in the start of the third period, with neither side able to find the go ahead goal, time was ticking away, and with just a point needed to progress, the Panther were just as happy to hold the scoreline as they were to try and add a third of their own. Liberec continued to press, trying to find the goal that could keep them in the competition, but Augsburg continued to play solid defensively and not taking risks going forward. Needing a regulation win, Liberec pulled the goalie with just over a minute to go, and almost immediately Augsburg found the empty net, Matt Fraser fired the puck from the goal line, all the way into the open goal to make it 3-2 and send the German side through to the playoffs.