- Boleslav remain winless
- Zurich have a chance to overcome Helsinki in the Group B standings
- Marcus Krüger and Justin Azevedo are Zurich'stop scorers.
BK Mlada Boleslav are set to host ZSC Lions Zurich as the 2021/22 Champions Hockey League Group Stage continues.
For the home side, a disappointing start could shift into a satisfactory finish. After falling short in each of their four previous contests, a fresh opponent could be exactly what Boleslav need to end their season on a high note.
In their previous match-up against IFK Helsinki, the Czech side managed to find the net first thanks to an Adam Raška powerplay tally but couldn't keep the lead and eventually fell 2-1. Despite the loss, Boleslav played one of their better games, outshooting their opponents 33-31 and killing off all six Helsinki man-advantages. With little to lose, Boleslav will need an encore of this effort if they hope to secure their first points of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Zurich are still very much in the race for Playoff qualification. With only one point separating the Swiss side from top place in Group B, two good showings against Boleslav could propel them into the latter stage of the competition.
Their last game against Frölunda Gothenburg was a tightly contested affair as the Swiss and Swedes went to overtime after Zurich's Patrick Geering scored the equaliser with less than five minutes to go in regulation. Though their effort would be in vain, the Swiss side’s all-around play against arguably the best team in CHL history helped maintain their Playoff contention.
Led by Marcus Krüger and Justin Azevedo in scoring with five points apiece, Zurich offer a challenging task for a struggling Boleslav squad that’s still hoping to find success on CHL ice before all is said and done.