Read below for more information on the Round of 16 series between HV71 Jonkoping and Sparta Prague. Sparta won on aggregate 7-4 to advance to the Quarter-Finals.
SPA 2–4 HVJ
Game 1
1. 11., 19:30 CET
HVJ 0–5 SPA
Game 2
8. 11., 19:30 CET
Preview
HV71 Jonkoping take on Sparta Prague in an interesting Round of 16 match-up. Against Austrian, British and Finnish opponents, HV71 have not been seriously threatened in the CHL yet. Sparta have had a more difficult time with opponents from Poland, Sweden and Finland, but they've survived to this point. HV71 sit 4th in the SHL standings and like any top Swedish club, they have the ability to play strong both offensively and defensively. Sparta, who are also 4th domestically, are also strong offensively and showed against Karpat Oulu that they can step their defensive game up when needed. Therefore, it's tough to say what we'll see here. Both teams have the big guns to score lots of goals, but both teams showed in the Round of 32 against Finnish opponents that they can get down in the trenches and grind out victories as well. It might be the team that can stay the most disciplined that survives and goes on to the Quarter-Finals.
Neither of these teams has advanced to the CHL Quarter-Finals before. However, HV71 did win the European Trophy back in 2010. Sparta were runners-up of the European club championships in both 2000 and 2008.
Closer look: HV71 Jonkoping
(5-0-0-1, 15 points, 22:12)
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. In the Round of 32 against Lukko Rauma, the team showed just how strong it is both offensively and defensively, grinding out a 2-0 win on home ice and then getting some key performances from key players in Finland, winning 4-3 to take the series on aggregate. This team seems to have what it takes to go deep in the competition this year, but they will need to continue that strong two-way play in the next round against a team that knocked off one of last year's finalists with a strong defensive effort.
Martin
Thornberg
4+5, even
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Martin Thornberg is one of the co-leaders of the CHL in points after six games with 9 and has been the best player overall for HV71 so far this season. He scored only 13 SHL goals last season including the playoffs, but this season has started very well and leads the team domestically as well. The 33-year-old winger, who will be returning to a city where he starred in the KHL, has played well on a line with Ted Brithen and Par Albrandt. The team does have a few injuries up front, including Simon Ornerud, who might return in time to play in one or both games vs Sparta.
Dylan
Reese
2+4, +2
Top Defenceman: It's hard to pick a top defencemen for HV71 this season, but Dylan Reese has 6 points in the tournament so far, and also 5 points in his first eight SHL games, which was followed by a three-game suspension for abuse of officials, but he will be back for the next CHL round. Reese joined HV71 this year, playing last season for the AHL's Springfield Falcons. He has adjusted to the bigger ice surprisingly quickly and is useful both on offence and defence. He is used on the power play as a point man. Adam Almqvist has put up big offensive numbers domestically.
Fredrik
Pettersson-Wenzel
88.89%
Top Goaltender: Both Linus Soderstrom and Fredrik Pettersson-Wenzel have played quite well so far this season. Although Soderstrom played well against Lukko, Petterson-Wenzel is the team's established starter, and as the team goes farther in the competition, coach Johan Lindbom will most likely turn to the 25-year-old in big games. While his CHL numbers have not been impressive so far, that's not a concern as he has been quite strong recently in the SHL.
Click here for team statistics.
Closer look: Sparta Prague
(2-1-2-1, 10 points, 18:11)
Being drawn into a group with Comarch Cracovia from Poland, it was assumed that Sparta and Farjestad Karlstad had almost a free pass to the Round of 32, and both made it easily. Sparta began by playing the first CHL game in Poland and spoiled the party with a 7-2 win, thanks to a Tomas Netik hat-trick. Up next was Farjestad on home ice, and the Swedish club struck twice in the third to win 2-1. In the return engagement with Cracovia, Sparta fired 65 shots on goal, but the game was tied 4-4 before a late power-play marker by Netik decided it in Sparta's favour. In their last game in Karlstad, Sparta needed a regulation win to take the group, but surrendered a last-minute equalizer. They won in overtime, but Farjestad's win over Cracovia in the last game dropped Sparta to second. In the Round of 32 against Karpat Oulu, defence was thought to be a concern, but the team gave up only 1 goal on 37 shots over more than 120 minutes of hockey. That ability to grind out victories could come in handy in the next round.
Tomas
Netik
6+0, +3
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Tomas Netik not only led Sparta in scoring during the group stage, but he also led the whole CHL with 6 goals. However, due to a knee injury, he missed both games against Karpat. As the team only scored 2 goals, Netik remains the top scorer, and the team is glad to have the 34-year-old winger back. Although they didn't score much vs Karpat, depth at forward is still the team's main strength, with proven scorers such as Petr Vrana, captain Jaroslav Hlinka and Lukas Pech, who is the team's top scorer in the Extraliga with 18 points in 16 games.
Michal
Cajkovsky
1+1, -1
Top Defenceman: Slovak Michal Cajkovsky has had a great start to the season so far, as it looks like he is continuing where he left off last season, when he collected 28 points in the Czech regular season. At the start of the season the team's defensive game was a mess, but the Round of 32, where the team allowed only 1 goal in total, was a real turning point. Now they are defensively strong domestically too, which has seen them rise in the Extraliga standings. That needs to continue against one of Europe's top offensive teams.
Tomas
Popperle
91.59 %
Top Goaltender: In the CHL group stage and early in the Extraliga season goaltending was an area of concern for Sparta. However, in the Round of 32 against Karpat, Tomas Popperle was spectacular, stopping 36 of 37 shots over two games. In the Extraliga, the play of himself and backup Filip Novotny has improved notably as well, probably due in large part to the overall improvement of the team's defensive game. Against a team that is as strong offensively as HV71, 32-year-old Popperle – a veteran of the NHL, AHL and KHL – will be depended on as the last line of defence.