Read below for information of the eighth-final series between Karpat Oulu and Sparta Prague. Karpat won 6–5 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals. 

Game 2

They entered the game down 2 goals on aggregate, but Karpat Oulu were confident on their home ice and, after a scoreless first period, dominated the second and scored twice to tie the total score. The two teams traded goals early in the third, then things settled down and it looked like overtime was looming, but Mika Pyorala decided the series with 49 seconds to play with a beautiful move, beating the Sparta defence to the outside and then sliding it through the pads of Tomas Popperle to put Karpat through to the quarter-finals.

“We cannot be satisfied. We had two goals more than Karpat. The first period we played well, but in the second period we played really passively and nobody moved. They got those two goals to tie it. Then in the third we scored but . . . the last goal was very unfortunate and it was the decisive goal. We are not satisfied,” said a clearly frustrated Sparta coach Josef Jandac, whose team has now been eliminated on a last-minute goal in the eighth-finals the last two seasons.

“It’s a tough spot to start two goals behind but we remained confident. We got to play the deciding game home and we played a good game. We didn’t score on our chances in the first but we believed in ourselves. We managed to respond to that 2–1 goal right away. Pyorala’s deciding goal was really sweet,” said Karpat coach Lauri Marjamaki. On the intensity he said, “It’s not usual to play games like these in the middle of the season. If these games don’t grow the team, I don’t know what will. The squad showed good mental fortitude and it feels great to continue to the elite eight of Europe.”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Game 1

They had surrendered only 1 goal in their first six CHL games this season and shut out Sparta Prague for the first half of this one, but the Czech club hit the net 4 times in the last half to take a 2-goal aggregate lead. Karpat out-shot Sparta 32–17, but Tomas Popperle was brilliant in goal, particularly early, to keep his team in position to win. 

“It was a typical game between Czech and Finnish teams,” figured Karpat assistant coach Mikko Manner. “Sparta were playing with all five players close to each other and we are used to being strong in our defensive zone. And as many times already happened in hockey, when you don’t score your scoring chances, the opponent scores goals. They were good in front of both nets, they were blocking shots and played very well in penalty killing. Our power play was bad today, we had six power plays and didn’t score at all. So we’ll get a little bit rest and then we will see how it goes back in Oulu.”
 
“I agree (with Manner), we were strong in front of both nets and played almost perfectly on the penalty kill,” nodded Sparta head coach Josef Jandac. “In the second period we changed our game little bit and gained the lead. It’s a little bit unfortuante the second goal against us was scored on the next shift right after our 3–1 goal. Other than that we played solid. And if you want to ask what this result means for the next game in Oulu . . . it means nothing. Everything is open.”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

This is a match-up between two teams who are both appearing in the Round of 16 for the second straight year. Last year Karpat went through while Sparta were stopped, and from what Karpat have shown so far in the CHL, they are poised to make that happen again, although they face their stiffest test so far. Sparta are strong offensively, and will make it difficult for the club from northern Finland to keep their stingy goals-against total to a mere 1. However, part of what makes Karpat such a difficult opponent is not only their stingy defence and strong goaltending, but they can also score too. In their quest to break through the Karpat defensive wall, they have to be mindful of their own end of the ice, as Karpat have several offensive weapons that can be game-breakers.  

It is a struggle to find enough superlatives to describe Karpat’s performance so far in the CHL, and especially that of goaltender Sami Aitokallio. Group J offered a pair of potential banana skins in the Vienna Capitals and Krefeld Pinguine, but Karpat made it look easy, allowing just one goal against in four games. They then followed that up with a pair of shut-out wins over Dusseldorfer EG in the Round of 32, meaning “the Weasels” have now surrendered just one goal in six CHL contests. Strangely, however, their dominance on the European stage has not translated into domestic success, with the two-time defending Liiga champs battling in the middle of the pack so far. When they hit the ice in Prague for the first leg of the next round, the iron-tight Karpat defence will face the most potent offence they've faced in the CHL so far this season.

Miko

Pyorala

3+2, +3

 

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Mika Pyorala is often referred as a dream player for every coach. His work ethic is very high in every game, he plays smart, he skates well and has good positoning at both ends of the ice. A recent example of his puck handling trickery was on his 2–0 goal against the Vienna Capitals in the last game of the group stage. Pyorala is an important player for Karpat on both the power play and penalty kill.

 

Lasse

Kukkonen

0+3, +7

 

Top Defenceman: Karpat captain Lasse Kukkonen is a warrior who leads by example. Usually logging very high minutes on ice, Kukkonen’s job is to keep goals against to a minimum and make opposing players pay the price in front of the Karpat net. The fact the team has only given up one goal in six games is a testament to his effectiveness in this area. The Oulu-born Kukkonen is the embodiment of the northern work ethic and winning mentality.

 

Sami

Aittokallio

99.25 %

 

Top Goaltender: Sami Aittokallio joined Karpat this summer from the Colorado Avalanche organization. He has been a brick wall in CHL this season, allowing only one goal in six games. His save percentage of 99.25 and miniscule 0.17 goals-against average are almost difficult to comprehend. He has been the key player in the triumphant run that Karpat have had in Europe so far, but chances are he's going to be busier this round against a more dangerous opponent. 

 

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Sparta Prague

(4-0-1-1, 13 points, 18:12)

Sparta advanced through Group M this year as expected, although how the group actually finished was far from anybody's expectations, with unheralded Storhamar Hamar finishing on top. Finishing second ahead of Geneve-Servette, Sparta were dealt a tough hand in the Round of 32, facing the ZSC Lions Zurich, but Sparta proved too much, winning 6–2 on aggregate, to join the final 16 teams. Things get even tougher now for the club from the Czech capital, as they face a Karpat team that has been invincible so far. They'll want to go into their series on a high note and they have been strong domestically, sitting in first place after 13 games, though it is a tight race between several teams.

Jan

Buchtele

6+0, +4

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Sparta are known as a strong offenseive team, with a dangerous power play. Part of what makes them so dangerous is their balanced attack, with two strong lines, and the combinations of Martin Reway–Jaroslav Hlinka and Jan Buchtele–Tomas Netik both easily noticeable on the ice when in top form. Buchtele has been the team's sniper so far with 6 goals in 6 games. 

Adam

Polasek

1+1, even

 

Top Defenceman: On this offensive-minded team, even the defence like to join the attack. That will give Karpat a handful, but could also have problems for Sparta if they aren't mindful of their own end. Adam Polasek and Michal Cajkovsky have been the team's best d-men in the CHL so far, with Polasek's big shot from the point always a threat on the power play. As well, Vladimir Eminger and Ryan Glenn will get a chance to face their former team.

 

Tomas

Popperle

93.26 %

 

Top Goaltender: It’s said that the most difficult job in the Czech Extraliga is to be a goalie in Sparta’s net. Sparta struggled in this position last season, but everyone hopes that after Tomas Popperle’s return this problem will be solved. Because of the offensive style of the Prague team, his job is never easy, but with a 93.26 save precentage in six games, he's done a good job so far. Against a Karpat team that doesn't give up many goals, he might have to be even better to give Sparta a chance.

 

Click here for team statistics.