Debutants JKH GKS Jastrzębie lost their first game of the season to Italian side HC Bolzano in a shootout, but it was a very promising first game for the Polish side, considering Bolzano's experience, including qualification for four Champions Hockey League seasons.

Jastrzębie forward Maciej Urbanowicz currently leads the team in points and has two assists after one game. Netminder Patrik Nechvátal has clocked one full game for the Polish side and has a save percentage of 93.75.

Jastrzębie will face an even bigger challenge when they take on top Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg who are the most experienced team in Group H, and have qualified for seven CHL seasons! 

The Austrian's made a strong start to their campaign with a dominant first game against Frisk Asker. They easily outshot their Norwegian hosts 41-21, and performed well on the powerplay converting 25% of their opportunities.

Salzburg's newly acquired Finnish forward, Jan-Mikael Järvinen, and American defenceman Charles Vincent Lo Verde were exceptional during the first game with three assists each. The 29-year-old American forward Ty Loney had a sensational first game with two goals and two assists, and now leads the team for points.

Netminding was divided between Jean-Philippe Lamoureux and Nicolas Wieser after Lamoureux overstretched on a save midway through the first period and had to exit the game. Until that point the the 37-year-old American netminder had been stellar, not letting one goal through.

This will be Red Bull Salzburg's second game on the road, while the Polish hosts have the home-ice advanatage.