Sparta Prague host Rögle Ängelholm in the First Game of a Quarter-Final matchup between two teams that look poised to go far in the competition. Both teams won their groups and passed the Round of 16 but did it in different ways – Rögle by outscoring everyone and Sparta with stifling defence and great goaltending.

This is Rögle’s first Champions Hockey League journey but they’ve looked very strong, winning seven of their eight games so far. In terms of offence, their 30 goals scored rank fourth-best and their powerplay in the best in the competition at 50.0 percent.

Their top scorer is Ludvig Larsson, whose 11 points tie him for third in the whole CHL. Larsson and Adam Tambellini both have four goals, while Leon Bristedt and defenceman Lucas Ekeståhl Jonsson each have eight assists and nine points. Of course, everyone also has their eyes on 17-year-old Austrian centre Marco Kasper, who has chipped in with six points as well.

The last time Sparta played in the CHL was 2016/17, when they went all the way to the Final, encountering three Swedish teams along the way – Rögle is their second this year. With just 13 goals against in eight games, their 1.63 team average is the best in the CHL.

Alexander Salák has played five of their eight CHL games so far and is the team’s starter in net, with a goals-against average of 1.58 and save percentage of 94.6. Their offence has been led by captain Michal Řepík and defenceman Michal Moravčík with six points each, and Filip Chlapík leads with three goals. Erik Thorell only has two points in five CHL games but he and Chlapík are the team’s co-leaders domestically with 34 points so far.

The domestic season has been up and down for Sparta, who currently sit sixth in the Extraliga. After a prolonged cool spell they’ve won four of their last five, and are coming off a 6-0 shutout of Rytíři Kladno on Sunday. Rögle are second in the SHL but have been a bit cool of late, winning only three of their last eight, the latest a 5-4 overtime loss at home to Örebro on Saturday.