Both sides had a perfect start to the new Champions Hockey League season - the Växjö Lakers edged out a big win against a feared Sparta Prague side, whilst Pinguins Bremerhaven managed to defy the odds against Finns TPS Turku and win their first-ever CHL game 2-1.

Staying out of the box will be key in this tie, as both teams kept them to a bare minimum during their opening games of the season and relied on the opposition’s mistakes to give them more space to create in front of the net on the powerplay. Växjö scored both their goals on the powerplay, Bremerhaven got their first of the night on the man advantage.

Another issue both teams faced was holding out until the very end – both Växjö and Bremerhaven were up by two but let one in during the final minute of the game, creating extra pressure for them to deal with in the final seconds.

If a goal like this were to come slightly earlier, it could have dire consequences and even cost them the game.

Bremerhaven deserve a special mention – their determination, physicality and unshakeable will to win on their debut were top class. They were outshot by the Finns and spent most of the game in their own zone, yet still they managed to pull off an incredible 2-1 win, thanks in part to the heroics of netminder Brandon Maxwell.

It’s this kind of mentality that gives you the upper hand in a game like their season opener against Liiga finalists Turku and let’s you stand a chance against Europe’s hockey elite. But could the reigning SHL champions prove too strong of an opponent for the DEL side?