Sixteen games will get under way within three hours of each other as the Champions Hockey League playoffs start tonight!
Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava vs. HK Nitra
Ostravar Arena, 17:00
In what is a closer tie than both of these teams travel for some league games, Vitkovice and Nitra meet in a Czecho-Slovak derby. Nitra have already had success against Czech club Pilsen earlier in the competition, winning both games.
"Nitra is a strong opponent for sure. They won the Slovak title last season and also won their CHL group, having beaten Pilsen, one of the best Czech teams," said Vitkovice assistant coach Pavel Trnka.
Andrej Kmec, HK Nitra coach, added, "We haven’t played any game like this before. There are going to be only two games in this series, so we can’t afford to make any mistakes. We want to prove that we have a good team which is capable of playing well, even in the CHL playoffs."
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Sparta Prague vs. Karpat Oulu
O2 Arena, 17:30
Having met last season further into the competition, only one of Sparta and Karpat will go out in the Round of 32 this time around.
"We can play an even game with Oulu, we proved that last year," said Sparta winger Lukas Pech, remembering last season's meeting between the teams. "It was too bad that we screwed up the end of the return leg in Finland, because we were close to advancing to the next round."
Bili Tygri Liberec vs. Farjestad Karlstad
Home Credit Arena, 18:00
Liberec comfortably beat Linkoping at this stage last season, and now face Swedish opposition again in the Round of 32.
"We have to work on our defensive game. We've been conceding more than two goals per game and that needs to change," said Tigers' coach Filip Pesan.
Red Bull Munich vs. Vaxjo Lakers
Olympia-Eisstadion, 18:00
The DEL leaders host the SHL's fourth-placed team in Bavaria, with Munich having never played a team from Sweden in the CHL. The Lakers on the other hand have won three out of four against German opposition, with just a loss in Ingolstadt the only blemish on their record.
"They're a quick team, so it's going to be a real big test for us," said Munich Head Coach Don Jackson, whose side currently top the DEL. "However we're getting better every day, and want to win the game." Lakers' Head Coach Sam Hallam added: "We're excited to face the reigning champions of the DEL, Red Bull Munich, a good team with great offensive skills."
Tappara Tampere vs. SaiPa Lappeenranta
Hakametsa Stadium, 18:00
An all Finnish match-up sees Tappara meet SaiPa in the Round of 32. These two sides played in the Liiga just over a week ago with Tappara winning 5-3 in Lappeenranta.
”This is the first time for us playing against another Finnish team in the CHL, so there’s extra incentive to these game," said Tappara forward Otto Rauhala. "We want to get to the next round, so starting at home, we have to take the first game, and hopefully get a little advantage in goals, too.”
"We already played against Tappara in our own Finnish Liiga two weeks ago, so it is clear what to expect from Tappara," commented SaiPa Assistant Coach Tuomo Ropo. "We know that they, as last year's Finnish Champions, will give us a good challenge. They are well organized, fast team, that plays wery tight, dicipline hockey for 60 minutes."
JYP Jyvaskyla vs. Skelleftea AIK
Synergia-Areena, 18:00
JYP and Skelleftea met in the Round of 16 two years ago, with both sides winning their respective games on home ice. Eventually, Skelleftea advanced by way of a shootout after both games were decided by a single goal after regulation.
Skelleftea welcome back Jimmie Ericsson to their side, while goaltender Joni Ortio is now registered to play in the CHL.
Yunost Minsk vs. Frolunda Gothenburg
Chizhovka-Arena, 18:00
Frolunda went down 4-2 in Ingolstadt last season in the first leg, and now face a tricky visit to Minsk, who are unbeaten at home in the CHL.
”It will be a different and useful experience for us. Minsk is an offensively skilled team and we believe that their type of game will suite us. We will focus on our gameplan, in which we trust immensely,” commented Frolunda assistant coach Par Johansson.
KalPa Kuopio vs. Djurgarden Stockholm
Data Group Areena, 18:00
Kappa are in the CHL playoffs for the first time, and come up against one of the biggest names in Swedish hockey. They got past Skelleftea in the group stages, so have experience of playing teams form the SHL.
"We were lucky to have Djurgarden as an opponent, so that we don’t need to travel too much," said KalPa head coach Pekka Virta, pointing out the relatively short distance between the teams. "Big and traditional teams like Djurgarden always earn a lot of respect and they have many great players on their team. Of course we are watching their game system from the video and they are playing a whole different game than Skelleftea did. New opponents are always interesting ones and I think we have a plan that will work against them."
TPS Turku vs. IFK Helsinki
HK Areena, 18:00
TPS's Dave Spina said of tonight's fixture, "It'll be a tough game. HIFK are in our league, they're a great team, and we can't take them lightly. Even though it's a CHL game and not a league game, we want to win and do well."
”It will be a very tough game, since TPS have had an excellent start to the season and look very strong already at this point. We are excited about this challenge and look forward to the first playoff games of the season," added HIFK coach Antti Tormanen. "You could see the excitement in all our players yesterday morning at the team practice session. This will be a big game!”
Red Bull Salzburg vs. SC Bern
Eisarena Salzburg, 19:30
Salzburg were knocked out at this stage last year by Norwegian club Storhamar Hamar, and this year face an entirely different prospect in Swiss champs SCBern, who have never made it this far before in the CHL. Nevertheless, the Red Bulls are expecting a big challenge.
"Bern will come with a lot of confidence, but we also have a high amount in our team too to win the game," said Salzburg forward Thomas Raffl. "It'll be a bit like playing the top teams in our league – we need to stay compact defensively, and take advantage of their mistakes and on special teams. We're expecting a tough game and must be ready from the off."
"I remember well when we were in the finals of the European Trophy back in 2010 in Salzburg, and came third overall," recalls Bern captain Martin Pluess. "Last year we played them in the pre-season and lost, so we know they'll have a strong team. There will be tight games, but we'll be doing all we can to make it to the next round."
Grizzlys Wolfsburg vs. ZSC Lions
EisArena Wolfsburg, 19:30
One of several NLA vs DEL match-ups, the Grizzlys made the CHL 'post-season' in their first season in the competition, while ZSC went out at this stage last year to Sparta Prague.
"Reaching the CHL playoffs is something very special for us," said head coach Pavel Gross, underlining the significance of his Wolfsburg club getting this far. "Now we are facing a very talented team, but we will be ready and will give our best to reach a good result.”
"They're a very solid, strong team, that made their own league's final last year and will be prepared to play," added ZSC GM Edgar Salis.
Eisbaren Berlin vs. EV Zug
Mercedes Benz Arena, 19:30
Berlin defenceman Micki DuPont spent several seasons in Zug and then Kloten, before heading to the German capital, so will know a thing of two about the Polar Bears' NLA opponents.
"EV Zug are a talented and good skating team, it'll be a great game," said the Canadian, while Berlin sports director Stefan Ustorf added, "They're a team who play in the same style as us. It'll be a top-quality game."
On the opposing side, Zug's head coach Harold Kreis said, "We want to win! With the group win and advancing this far, we have already achieved our first goal. Now we want to achieve our next one and make it through to the Round of 16," said the German-Canadian. "Berlin are a good team with quality imports, who play good hockey and don't just defend."
HC Lugano vs. HC Pilsen
Resega, 19:45
Lugano face a Pilsen team struggling in their own league on home ice, as the match-ups in this tie were reversed due to arena unavailability.
“Our video coach is doing his job about our opponents. It's a two games series and that’s different to league or indeed NLA playoff games. We had a five-point weekend, so I think the team is confident," said HCL coach Doug Shedden. "We still have some injured players on defence, but we have enough solutions.”
Jakub Lev, forward for HC Pilsen, added, "Playing in the CHL is a reward for what we accomplished last season. In Lugano, we want to maximize our chances to advance before the second game of the series on home ice."
HC Kosice vs. Fribourg-Gotteron
Steel Arena, 19:45
Kosice surprised many last season by beating Skelleftea in Steel Arena in the first leg. While they eventually lost out in Scandinavia, they have proved they're no pushovers at this level.
"The CHL is a totally different competition compared to the Slovak league. Fribourg have a great team but we are prepared to battle hard for a good result," stated Kosice forward Tomas Klima.
HC Davos vs. Linkoping HC
Vaillant Arena, 19:45
It will be a special game for two Davos players when they lace up at home to Linkoping tonight. Daniel Rahimi played for the Swedish club last season, while Joren van Pottelberghe was in the Linkoping junior system. Davos made it all the way to the CHL Semi-Finals last year, while Linkoping were eliminated in the Quarter-Finals against Vaxjo. One of them will leave at the first playoff hurdle this time around.
HV71 Jonkoping vs. Lukko Rauma
Kinnarps Arena, 20:00
The evening's final game sees another SHL vs. Liiga match-up as Lukko Rauma travel to Jonkoping. The Swedes eased through their group with Salzburg and Sheffield, while Lukko needed a big win in Ingolstadt late in the group to ensure their place in the next round. The top seeds for this tie are HV71, but the games were reversed due to ice availability.