The Champions Hockey League's final 16 teams have been settled, with defending champions Lulea backing into a spot despite a 3–1 home loss.
Lulea Hockey 1–3 Farjestad Karlstad
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LULEA WIN 4–3 ON AGGREGATE
Perhaps no team's situation seemed safer heading into Game 2 than defending champs Lulea, who were heading home with a three-goal lead. However, they let it slip away in two periods, thanks to 2 goals and 1 assist by Johan Ryno and the goaltending of Frolunda's Lars Haugen, who was perfect. Persistence finally paid off just shy of the 49-minute mark, though, when Brendan Mikkelson scored the series-winner for Lulea, and the only goal to beat Haugen on the night.
Adler Mannheim 3–2 Espoo Blues
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | BLUES WIN 6–4 ON AGGREGATE
Mannheim needed to overcome a three-goal deficit to at least extend the series to overtime, and did all they could to make it happen, outshooting the Blues 38–22. They twice scored to come within two in the first and second periods, then with just 36 seconds left Ryan MacMurchy's second goal of the game shorthanded brought them to within one. They pulled Dennis Endras to go for the aggregate equalizer, but that led to a late empty-netter to put it away for Espoo.
“I am proud of the guys. They battled hard until the very end. I think we were better in the 5-on-5 play, but special teams were the difference in this series,” acknowledged Mannheim coach Greg Ireland, who's team is now finished despite losing once in six CHL games.
Blues head coach Jyrki Aho commented, “The first game was the difference. It was a rough game today for us and I am not satisfied with the tactical side of it, but I am happy we reached the next round.”
Red Bull Munich 0–3 Lukko Rauma
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LUKKO WIN 8–3 ON AGGREGATE
After scoring two late goals in Rauma to bring themselves to within two in the aggregate score, Munich really felt they had a chance on home ice and went for it, firing at Lukko goalie Ryan Zapolski from all angles. However, by early in the third period, their deficit was back to four. They first pulled goalie Danny aus den Birken with almost 13 minutes left, but it ultimately led to an empty-net goal to seal it for Lukko. Zapolski finished with an incredible 39-save shutout.
HC Davos 4–2 IFK Helsinki
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | DAVOS WIN 5–4 ON AGGREGATE
There was little to choose between these teams in Game 1 in Helsinki and IFK came into Davos with the narrowest of leads. The teams traded goals in the first and second, and still it was the club from the Finnish capital in front by a goal in the final period. Davos peppered Ville Husso with shots all night – 39 in all. Finn Perttu Lindgren scored his second of the game to tie the series for Davos early in the third, and then on a late power play Dario Simion scored the winner with 1:10 to go. An empty-netter put it away.
ZSC Lions Zurich 0–3 Sparta Prague
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | SPARTA WIN 6–2 ON AGGREGATE
After fighting back to reduce a three-goal deficit to one in Game 1 in Prague, the ZSC Lions were feeling confident heading into their home half of this series. They started the game with energy and had lots of shots on goal, but couldn't beat Tomas Popperle in the Sparta net, who finished the game with a 30-save shutout. At the other end, Sparta scored 3 goals on 19 shots against Urbam Liembacher before he was pulled, and that was all they needed to wrap up their spot in the next round.
“We had lot of chances on the power play to get back in the game but it wasn’t good tonight,” said a disappointed Zurich coach Marc Crawford. “Our power play needed to be good so that we could give ourselves a chance but we didn’t get to the net, didn’t get the shots, we didn’t have really good entries. There really wasn’t any part of our power play that excelled tonight. And their goalie was really good so that also was a big difference maker.”
“We won the first game 3–2 at home so we knew we had the goal advantage and we wanted to play solid defence and score on our chances,” said Sparta's Tomas Netik, who had 1 goal and 1 assist. “I’m happy with my performance, it was a great line performance and the whole team. Scoring the first goal is always important because it’s good for the team's mindset, knowing that we were up two goals.”
HV71 Jonkoping 3–1 Ocelari Trinec
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | HV71 WIN 5–3 ON AGGREGATE
After drawing their first meeting in Trinec, things stayed that for a while in Jonkoping too. After a scoreless first period, the teams traded goals four minutes apart in the second, and went into the third still even. The decisive blow was struck by captain Chris Abbott – who last year captained Lulea to the CHL title – on the power play with 8:45 to play. A late empty-netter removed all doubt, sent HV71 through and Trinec out.