Struggling Linkoping visit improving Davos

Linkoping HC and HC Davos are two teams that had very different CHL experiences last year. While Linkoping were unceremoniously bounced in the Round of 32, HC Davos rode a wave of momentum all the way to the Semi-Finals. This year they were both good in the group stage, but Linkoping looked more solid from top to bottom by taking all 12 points, while Davos struggled on the road, especially in Stockholm, where they lost big. This series begins in Davos, where the Swiss club will definitely want to get the leg up, as they don't want to be going back to Sweden with a deficit to make up. Davos have Swedish internationals Dick Axelsson and Daniel Rahimi in their lineup – the latter a former Linkoping player – and former Linkoping junior goalie Joren van Potelberghe.

Linkoping HC and JYP Jyvaskyla were expected to emerge from Group K, and that's exactly what happened. While the Gap Rapaces put up good fights, they were unable to take any points from the Nordic giants. In their first CHL game of the season, Linkoping won a 2-0 war of attrition in Gap. They then took a big step towards winning the group with a 4-1 win in Jyvaskyla. They then did it on home ice as well, beating the same two teams in reverse order 4-3 and 6-1 to take the maximum 12 points. Linkoping were dominant offensively and defensively, and can get scoring from so many sources. Their power play is especially dangerous. Things get difficult right away in the Round of 32 though, as they take on last year's Semi-Finalists, HC Davos. At the same time, Linkoping would like to erase some bad memories of last year's tournament, when they were devastated in the Round of 32 by Bili Tygri Liberec.

HC Davos were a different story at home than on the road in the group stage, taking the maximum 6 ponts at Valiant Arena, but only 2 away from home. They began with a 4-1 home-ice win over the Rouen Dragons, but followed that up with a 6-0 drubbing in Stockholm at the hands of Djurgarden. They returned home with a much different effort against the Swedish club, winning 3-1, and finished off with an overtime win in Rouen. Their 8 points tied them atop Group B, but Djurgarden got first place on the grounds of out-scoring Davos in their two encounters. Now they face another Swedish club – one that was perfect in the group stage. They have quite a task ahead of them if they want to return to the CHL Semi-Finals.