In the return game of their Champions Hockey League Semi-Final, Mountfield HK begin with a two-goal advantage over Djurgården Stockholm following their 3-1 victory last weekend in the Swedish capital. Considering how stingy Mountfield’s defence and Marek Mazanec’s goaltending has been recently, that could be quite a mountain for Djurgården to overcome.

In the first game, Djurgården took the early lead but it didn’t last long. Mountfield equalized in the fifth minute, then Matěj Chalupa scored early in the second period and midway through the third. In a duel between two former NHL netminders, Karri Rämö stopped 23 of 26 Mountfield shots, while Mazanec stopped 21 of 22. Both goalies have been solid throughout this CHL season, but Mazanec has been nearly unbeatable in the playoffs – just three goals against in five full games.

Fortunately for Djurgården, they do possess offensive capabilities. Their 3.27 goals per game is fifth-highest in the CHL, and defenceman Olle Alsing is second in CHL scoring with 15 points (3+12) in 11 games. In the SHL, Alsing is second in team scoring behind Patrik Berglund. Alsing is the quarterback of Djurgården’s potent power play, which is firing at 28.57 percent in the CHL, so just as they did in the first game when they took only two minor penalties, Mountfield would be best advised to stay out the penalty box.

This hasn’t been a great season domestically for either team, although both have done better recently. Djurgården sit eighth in the 14-team Swedish Hockey League but have taken seven out of nine points in their last three games, most recently a 3-2 overtime loss to league-leading Luleå Hockey – who are playing in the other CHL Semi-Final. As for Mountfield, they are ninth in the 14-team Extraliga but have won four of their last five – most recently a 5-0 shutout over Energie Karlovy Vary win which Mazanec made 23 saves and picked up an assist. Chalupa and Lukáš Cingel each had two points in the game.

The first goal of the game was scored by Jakub Lev (MHK) at 20:53.