Playoff qualification has already been decided in Group H, but Tuesday’s tilt between HC Bolzano and Red Bull Salzburg in Italy will determine the group winner. 

Heading into their final Group Stage game, the two teams are level, each on 12 points.

A feisty meeting between the two teams last week saw Bolzano claim a hard-fought regulation win.

Holding onto a 3-2 lead late in the third period, visiting Bolzano pounced with two empty-net goals to see off Salzburg in an eventual 5-3 victory, despite being outshot 43-24. 

American netminder Kevin Boyle made 40 saves to earn his third win from three starts, giving him an impressive 95.87 save percentage, and Brett Findlay scored twice and leads Bolzano in points (4G, 2A).

That result was Salzburg’s first defeat of their CHL campaign, snapping a four-game win streak in the process. 

Peter Schneider, who scored against Bolzano last week to take his tally to seven points, and Jan-Mikael Järvinen (5A) are both on pace for a point-per-game. 

Another fiercely competitive encounter can be expected once again.