It's quarter-final time in this season's CHL, with the first legs taking place tonight. No-one can leave the competition this evening, but teams could go a long way to securing their place in the semis with a strong performance ahead of next week's return games.
Espoo Blues vs. Karpat Oulu
Espoo Metro Areena, 17:30
In the first of two all-Liiga ties, both beginning at 17:30, Karpat visit Espoo aiming to make the semi-final stage for the second consecutive year. Standing in their way is a Blues team that has struggled domestically this season, currently sitting just one spot and four points above last place in the league. Karpat, on the other hand, look healthy in third, despite being well off the lead. 4–2 and, more recently, 5–2 wins for Karpat over the Blues in the Liiga this season make the Oulu club favourites for this tie, although Espoo have won three of their last four CHL matches.
After his team snapped a four-game losing streak against the Blues on Saturday, Karpat head coach Lauri Marjamaki was pleased to see his team score goals more efficently. "In the CHL it's a different system. Every goal counts. (On Saturday) we regained faith in our ability to score. We'll head to Espoo with confidence and high spirits."
"Karpat are a great team and these are tough games. It's awesome to get to play these and I'm enjoying it to the fullest. On Tuesday it's the CHL again and we're prepared give our everything," said Blues defenceman Jere Seppala.
TPS Turku vs. Lukko Rauma
HK Areena, 17:30
Completing the all-Finnish match-ups sees TPS, who have not lost in regulation in this season's CHL, facing Lukko Rauma who went out at this stage last year to eventual winners Lulea. There's not been much to choose from between these two clubs domestically this season, with Lukka sitting 5th in the Liiga standings with 47 points, just two points up on TPS, who have a game in hand. In their two Liiga meetings this season, each side has won at home, with Lukko's victory coming in overtime.
"We are expecting an even match, just like last week in Turku," said TPS defenceman Jani Forsstrom.
HC Davos vs. Skelleftea AIK
Vaillant Arena, 19:45
Davos enter this quarter-final stage of the Champions Hockey League as the last standing non-Nordic team, and take on a Skelleftea side that tops the SHL by two points after 23 games. Davos themselves sit three places below NLA leaders ZSC Lions Zurich, seven points off the pace but with a game in hand. Both Davos and Skelleftea lost on the road in their Round of 32 ties, but since then have won three straight CHL games each.
Speaking to Swiss media about the game, former ZSC, Bern, and Lugano coach Larry Huras described the SHL side as quote similar to Davos, saying, "Skelleftea play quite a Swiss style, with aggressive forechecking. The defencemen are active, and the neutral zone play will get broken up."
Lulea Hockey vs. Frolunda Gothenburg
Coop Norrbotten Arena, 20:00
Last season's finalists meet in the last eight stage this year, with only one of them able to advance further in the competition this time around. With 53 points from 23 games and sitting second in the SHL, Frolunda will enter this tie as favourites – especially as they sit eight places, and some 21 points, ahead of Lulea domestically. Florida have also won both meetings between these teams in the SHL this year, 4–2 and 4–3 respectively, as they look to avenge last season's CHL final defeat.
"Of course it's going to be revenge for us because we lost the Final last year, but it was so close," says Frolunda forward Oscar Fantenberg. "Of course we want revenge on them, but I think we're going to take it simply as a game and not try to think so much about last year, but of course it's going to be a little bit of revenge if we win."
Lulea goalie Joel Lassinantti countered, "It's a new year, a new team and a lot of new players on both teams, so we're not thinking about that game so much, but still . . . a lot of guys who played here last year still have that game in our minds, so we can take some parts of that game with us."