Skellefteå AIK host Tappara Tampere in the first of their Game Days 5 and 6 series with both teams still very much in the hunt for a Playoff place – but knowing that it might just be one of them that makes it through.

It’s advantage Tappara going into Game Day 5, with the Finnish side leading Group E on ten points, two ahead of HC Lugano and three in front of their hosts. The Tampere-based club are one of a handful of teams in this season’s competition yet to lose a game, and have amassed ten points from the four they’ve played so far. A win for them, in 60 minutes or beyond, would send them into the Round of 16.

Tappara go into Champions Hockey League action having lost their last two, but were unbeaten in two prior to this past weekend.

Home side Skellefteå don’t have much other option than winning. A point behind Lugano, were results to go against the Swedes they could already find themselves eliminated – especially as they also lose the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Swiss team.

What Skellefteå will be hoping is that their confidence from their start in the SHL comes through. Robert Ohlsson’s team have won four of their opening six games in their domestic competition, and head into this fixture unbeaten in two. They also boast the SHL’s meanest defense, with only seven goals given up so far.

Adam Mascherin, who leads the team for goals in the CHL, has also found then net three times in SHL action.