Read below for information on the Round of 32 series between the Vaxjo Lakers and Red Bull Munich. Vaxjo won the 5-4 to advance to the Round of 16.
Preview
In recent years the Vaxjo Lakers have become one of the Swedish Hockey League's top teams, winning their first title in 2015. That hasn't translated into much success in the CHL, however, with the club failing to reach the Round of 16 so far. They'll try to change that this year, but standing in their way is Red Bull Munich – another team that has recently ascended domestically, winning their first DEL title in 2016. This match-up would seem to pit the firepower of the Lakers against the tight-checking defence of the Red Bulls – the Swedish team will try to open up the play and make these two games all about speed, and if that happens the Bavarian squad doesn't stand a chance. Munich will try to slow these games down and win in the trenches, which is really their only shot.
Closer look: Vaxjo Lakers
(2-0-2-0, 8 points, 16:10, 1st in Group L)
The Vaxjo Lakers finished first place in Group L, but disposing of Yunost Minsk and BK Mlada Boleslav was far from an easy task for them. While offence wasn't a problem, defence was at times against opponents from supposedly inferior leagues. They started by hosting Mlada Boleslav in a loosely played first period that was tied 3-3, before finding their game and eventually winning 7-3. Their next game in Minsk was a back-and-forth affair, with Yunost eventually winning 4-3 in overtime. Their road woes continued in Mlada Boleslav, where they allowed a late tying goal and lost in a shootout. They hosted Yunost in the last group game, with both teams already through but top spot in the group at stake – here the Lakers came through with their best start-to-finish effort of the season with a 4-0 win.
Pontus
Netteberg
3+4, +7
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Pontus Netterberg is new to the team and what a start it has been for him so far with his new club. He scored 2 big goals in the last game against Yunost, and with the 7 points he collected in the four group stage games he is the second-highest scorer overall in the CHL. His +7 rating shows that he's not a defensive liability either. Heading into this season, the 24-year-old winger had only played five games of elite-level hockey, but the Lakers have high hopes for him this season. He is an offensive-minded player with a great shot that makes him a natural goal scorer and definitely a player to keep an eye on. Other new reinforcements to the team's attack are ex-KHLers Geoff Platt and Olli Palola.
Cory
Murphy
0+5, +2
Top Defenceman: Veteran Cory Murphy is now in his fourth season with the club and has been a solid piece on Vaxjo’s back end since he first joined. The 38-year-old Canadian played three years in the NHL, but has spent the majority of his professional career in Europe, where he has excelled. He is a defenceman with great vision and offensive instincts. That makes him capable of contributing on offence and he is a great threat from the blue line on the power play. He has the second-most points on the team with 6 assists after the group stage.
Joacim
Eriksson
88.89 %
Top Goaltender: Joacim Eriksson and Viktor Andren played two games each for Vaxjo during the group stage, and while 22-year-old Andren had the better numbers, one has to think that Ericsson, former NHLer and Word Championship bronze medallist, has the inside track on being the team's starting goalie. Ericsson is only 26, but it seems as if he's been around for a while now. He backstopped Skelleftea AIK to the SHL title in 2013 before going overseas. Andren, meanwhile, is a Vaxjo product that has spent the past two seasons in the Allsvenskan. It wouldn't be a surprise to see both appear against Munich.
Click here for team statistics.
Closer look: Red Bull Munich
(3-0-0-1, 9 Points, 14:4, 2nd in Group F)
Munich had a tough start to the CHL season this year with a 3-0 loss against Fribourg-Gotteron. In their second game in Znojmo, they trailed 2-1 after two periods and were in danger of falling into the group basement, but they rallied for three straight goals in the third to win 4-3. From their last two group games on home ice, the Red Bulls needed only a single point to advance, but Don Jackson's team did better than that, taking all six. First it was a 3-1 win over Fribourg, followed by a 7-0 shellacking of Znojmo. While they finished up the group stage strong, those returning members from last year's team know that doesn't mean anything – last year they had a perfect group stage, only to get bounced in the Round of 32 by Finnish club Lukko Rauma. This year's opponents will be no easier – the Vaxjo Lakers from Sweden.
Michael
Wolf
3+0, -1
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: The old and new Top Scorer this season is captain Michael Wolf, a true leader on and off the ice. Together with six of his teammates, he is tied for the team lead in points with 3 – all goals for Wolf. A veteran of the German national team, he played in seven World Championships and one Winter Olympics before retiring from international play in 2015 as the German captain. In each of his first two seasons in Munich, the team has reached the DEL Finals, winning its first title last season. He leads a talented group of forwards, with three lines that are able to score.
Deron
Quint
0+3, +2
Top Defenceman: Veteran defenceman Deron Quint joined the Red Bulls this summer, and has fully integrated into the team's defensive corps. He adds an offensive dimension to Munich's defence, while not compromising anything in his own end of the ice, and hasn't lost much speed despite his age. The 40-year-old American is a veteran of more than 400 games in both the NHL and KHL. He also played for Eisbaren Berlin in the original CHL in 2008. Besides Quint, there isn't a lot of offence from Munich's back end, but they are solid defensively.
