Read below for information about the eighth-final series between Frölunda Gothenburg and Tappara Tampere. Frölunda won 9–3 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.

Game 2

Coming home with a four-goal aggregate lead, not many expected Frolunda to blow their quarter-final bid and indeed they didn't, winning 4–2. They built up a 3–0 lead after two periods before Tappara battled back in the third, but by then the series had been decided. Andreas Johnsson added two more points to his total and Mathis Olimb one, meaning the two linemates are now tied for the CHL scoring lead with 21 points each. 

"I think we had problems setting up the intensity in the beginning, just like the first game against Tappara," said Frolunda head coach Roger Ronnberg. "I don't think we played good enough in the first period because we made a couple of bad and late decisions which caused us trouble. In the second period, though, we stepped up a bit and did what we needed to win the game."

READ the live blog here | WATCH the highlights here

Game 1

Frolunda was an offensive machine during the group stage and carried that over into the first period in Tampere, scoring three times en route to a 5–1 road victory. They got two points each from Cramo (and CHL) Top scorer Mathis Olimb, Andreas Johnsson, Mathias Janmark and Christan Backman. Antti Erkunjuntti got one back for Tampere late, but his team still has a huge mountain to climb in Gothenburg. 

"I don't think that the score reflects the game," Frolunda coach Roger Ronnberg said afterward. "I think that Tappara was better than that and it was a more even game. We were a bit lucky on our offence and we had a good goaltender."

"We put everything on the line, both mentally and physically," said Tappara coach Jussi Tapola. "I assumed that we would have enough strength for this kind of an opponent but, as we could see at the beginning, we didn't. Frolunda was this much better, there's no denying it."

READ the live blog here. WATCH the highlights here. 

Coaches react to Frölunda's 5–1 win over Tappara

Frölunda d-man Gustafsson: "I try to play as offensive as possible and I like to shoot a lot"

Looking ahead to game 2 of Frölunda–Tappara by the numbers: could be a high-scoring affair

Preview

Frölunda face fellow group winners Tappara in the round of 16, as Tappara’s points total saw them placed among the unseeded teams. The Swedish club will notice that their opponents lost three games in the group stage (two in shootouts), while being confident of only having lost one game themselves. Both teams find themselves in similar positions in their respective domestic leagues, within striking distance of the top, making this a tough tie to call.

Closer look: Frölunda Gothenburg

(5-0-0-1, 15 points, 35:13, 1st in Group C)

Frölunda finished tied for first in Group C with Genève-Servette, but boasted the better head-to-head record to come through in top spot. They finished a comfortable nine points ahead of Austria’s Villach SV in third place, and came through the group stage with relative ease – scoring seven goals in three separate games. In the SHL they sit in third, just slightly behind leaders HV71 and Skelleftea.

Mathis

Olimb

5+13, +8

 

CRAMO Top Scorer: 28-year-old Norwegian forward Mathis Olimb, with five goals and 13 assists (18 points), leads the CHL in terms of total points. Olimb also leads his team in SHL play, with linemates Mattias Janmark and Andreas Johnsson putting up solid offensive numbers as well.

 

Erik

Gustafsson

4+9, +5

 

Top Defenceman: Erik Gustafsson's 13 group-stage points leads all CHL defencemen and, in fact, places him third in overall scoring after teammates Olimb and Johnsson. His SHL numbers aren't too shabby either, with nine points in his first 16 games.

 

Linus

Fernström

89.19 %

 

Top Goaltender: Linus Fernström has started 11 of Frölunda's first 16 SHL games, though he played only two of their CHL group games. Whether it's him or Lars Johansson, however, both goalies have put up sparkling domestic numbers. With all the team's offence they didn't need solid goaltending in the group stage, but they probably will now in the playoff round.

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Tappara Tampere

(3-0-2-1, 11 points, 21:16, 1st in Group E)

Group E was one of the closest races, with Tappara actually finishing level on points with Stavanger Oilers of Norway. However, Tappara won the head-to-head, but because both sides only had 11 points, the Oilers didn’t even go though as a lucky loser. Tappara only won one of their road games, although lost the other two in shootouts. They also suffered a home loss to SC Bern, who would go on to finish last in the group. Domestically, Tappara didn't get off to a great start but have been hot lately, climbing up from 10th to third place in a short period of time. They seem to be hitting stride just in time for the CHL playoffs.

Olli

Palola

2+2, -1

 

CRAMO Top Scorer: 25-year-old defenceman David Kolomatis actually led the team in round one with seven points. Frölunda would be wise, however, to keep an eye on Olli Palola. He only had four points in six group-stage games, but the Finnish national team forward leads the team with 13 points in Liiga.

David

Kolomatis

4+3, +1

 

Top Defenceman: Kolomatis with seven points in the group stage and seven more points in Liiga play, has had a few decent seasons in AHL point-wise, but has had trouble moving his game into the Liiga – although the CHL games have been better. Kolomatis' development is vital to Tappara as he is one of the more skilled defenders on the team and the team needs his leadership in the offensive zone.

 

Juha

Metsola

90.73 %

 

Top Goaltender: Juha Metsola has played every minute of every Tappara games in Liiga so far, so he's the undesputed number-one man in the nets. In five CHL games, he put up 90.73%.

 

Click here for team statistics.

Related Links

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25.10.2014 – Interview: Tappara top prospect Patrik Laine: "It felt great to score in the CHL"

28.09.2014 – Interview: Tappara rookie goalie Hrachovina: "It's still only a hockey game"

03.09.2014 – Interview: CHL Top Scorer Andreas Johnsson: "Everything I did turned into something good"