EV Zug and HPK Hämeenlinna meet once again one week after HPK’s 4-3 shootout win in Switzerland, but both teams have taken different paths since then and therefore both have something different to play for in this match – Zug will look to hold on to their 3-point advantage in the Group B standings and add an extra few points, whilst HPK will want to do the exact opposite and reduce the gap if possible to zero. Zug’s 7 points mean they are joint top of their group with Pilsen, whilst HPK’s 4 points currently have them missing out on the elimination phase of the CHL. Despite not having as many points, HPK can be seen as having an advantage coming into this game, as Zug and Pilsen have not yet faced each other and they will definitely lose points against one another, whilst HPK have 2 games against underdogs Rungsted coming up next.

Coming back to the their first game in Switzerland last week, with the score tied at 3-3 after 60 minutes of playing time thanks to Markus Nenonen’s late equaliser the game went to overtime and subsequently a shootout and it was once again him who scored the deciding shootout goal to give his side their only win so far in their debut CHL season.

Overtimes have been hit and miss for HPK – all three of their games this season have gone to OT, but HPK have only managed to win one and have lost to Pilsen twice (losing just 15 seconds into OT in their 4-5 defeat on Thursday). Zug on the other hand head for Finland after a comfortable away win against Rungsted. Their 5 goals in the first period where the only goals needed for a 5-0 shutout win in Denmark.