With four game days behind us and a three week break from Champions Hockey League action ahead of us, now’s the perfect time to reflect on the start of the new season. Here are our Top 5 Teams from Game Days 1 to 4!
Leksands IF
You would be forgiven for thinking that Leksands IF were seasoned performers on the CHL stage given their early season exploits in Group F. However, the Swedish team are first-time participants in the competition and have started their debut CHL campaign with a bang.
Four wins from their opening four games has seen Leksand make a big impression in a short space of time with the team securing their Playoff place in the process.
Their blistering start means Leksand will certainly be one of the teams to watch in the later stages of the competition. Just how far can the debutants go?
Red Bull Munich
Group D leaders Red Bull Munich find themselves locked in a three-way battle to qualify, and it could all get rather tense with Munich set to face their main group rivals EV Zug in their last two remaining group stage games.
Munich’s 3-0-1-0 record has provided them with a healthy nine points and if they are to complete the job and close out the group, Munich might again be needing the help of their impressive powerplay units to fire them over the line.
Munich have used their powerplay to devastating effect in their first four games, converting on five of their nine attempts with the man advantage. That record puts Munich firmly at the top of the CHL’s overall powerplay standings at 55.56 percent, and could well give them the crucial advantage as things heat up in Group D!
Växjö Lakers
Sweden’s Växjö Lakers once again appear to be a formidable force as they battle for qualification from Group A.
The former CHL Finalists could again go deep in this season’s competition as one of the team’s to watch. One of Växjö’s biggest strengths so far has been their penalty kill which has so far been impenetrable and has failed to concede a single goal in 12 powerplay attempts against them.
If Växjö can maintain anything close to their current penalty killing record as the competition progresses, they will be capable of making a serious push for the title.
Pinguins Bremerhaven
Pinguins Bremerhaven are another new team in the CHL who have been enjoying their time so far.
Three wins and a sole defeat have made Bremerhaven the surprise leaders of Group A, with the team enjoying victories over both the Växjö Lakers and TPS Turku.
Bremerhaven’s goaltending has been key to their early season successes with the netminder tandem of Brandon Maxwell and Maximilian Franzreb providing the team with a solid platform on which to develop their game plan.
Maxwell has a CHL-leading save percentage of 98.28% (of all netminders who have played more than one game), including a 20-save shutout against Turku on Game Day 3.
Franzreb meanwhile has been equally as exceptional, making a 42-save debut in a 5-0 defeat away to Växjö before starring in the reverse fixture, making 36-saves in a stirring 2-1 win against the Swedes on home ice.
With a combination of clutch goaltending and some impressive results, Bremerhaven get a deserved mention on our top-five list.
EV Zug
No other team has scored more goals so far this CHL season than Swiss National League champions EV Zug.
Zug have lit the lamp on no less than 23 occasions in their opening four games in Group D, averaging a CHL-best of 5.75 goals-per-game.
Zug’s prolific offence has partly been down to two major contributors, Reto Suri and Lino Martschini.
Suris’ impressive 62.5 shooting percentage has seen him put up five goals in four games leaving the Swiss forward ranked joint-top of the CHL goal charts.
Martschini leads the CHL in points, posting two goals and an incredible seven assists from only four games!
There is no doubt that Zug have been a thrilling team to follow through Game Days 1-4.