High-scoring HV71 face low-conceding Lukko

This Round of 32 match-up features two teams that had rather different group stage experiences. HV71 got off to a strong start and locked up their group without much problem, while Lukko started slow and advanced despite only winning one game. This also features the high-flying offence of HV71 – who scored 5 goals in each of their three wins and have three players with at least 5 points – and the normally stingy defence of Lukko, who are traditionally low in star power but high in team play. Also, it's never boring when Swedish and Finnish teams face each other.

Of note, despite being a group winner, HV71 will host the first game in Jonkoping due to an arena conflict the following week. The second leg will be played in Rauma.

For the second year in a row, HV71 topped their group, which included Red Bull Salzburg – a team that they were grouped with for the third year in a row – and the Sheffield Steelers. After winning their first three games, they lost the last one to Salzburg. However, that was good enough to finish on top. As is usually the case, things will start getting more difficult now, as they face a team that has twice gone deep into the CHL playoffs the last two years.

Lukko Rauma finished as runners-up in Group D behind ZSC Lions Zurich, the Swiss team that beat them twice. After that slow start, a big 6-1 win in Ingolstadt secured their place in the next round, before losing to Ingolstadt at home. Despite their less-than-stellar showing in the group stage, this is a team that has gone to the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals the last two CHL seasons, so confidence shouldn't be a problem.