Last week in Switzerland, HC Davos and Tappara Tampere played a defensive game that produced only one goal, shorthanded by Petteri Puhakka in the second period. That means this Round of 16 matchup is still very much up for grabs as the two teams start the Return Game in the Nokia Arena with only one goal between them.

However, the fact that Tappara have a lead on home ice and they showed last week that they can play very stingy defence definitely puts them in the driver’s seat. Playing at home, Davos only managed 20 shots on goal, and not many of them were serious threats to Christian Heljanko’s shutout. They will absolutely need to produce more dangerous chances this game and, unlike last week, score at least once in regulation time.

Tappara are one of only three teams competing in the Champions Hockey League for the eighth straight season – the others being EV Zug and four-time champions Frölunda Gothenburg. For years, their competition stopped in the Round of 16, often in heartbreaking fashion, but they broke through last year and made it all the way to the Final where they lost 2-1 to Rögle Ängelholm. This year, the reigning Finnish Liiga champions have unfinished business, and their first step on the road back to the Fiinal can be taken against Davos.

While Davos don’t quite have the CHL experience of their opponents, this is their fourth time around and they have had some degree of success, reaching the Semi-Finals back in 2015/16. Back then, Andres Ambühl had 10 points in 11 games, and the veteran Swiss forward in his career has 27 points in 29 CHL games, including 7 in 7 this season. Enzo Corvi is their top scorer in the CHL this season with nine points. Domestically, it’s Czech forward Matěj Stránský with 18 points in 22 games.

For Tappara, Jori Lehterä and Christian Tanus both have six points in the CHL. Domestically, Lehterä has 20 points (2+18) in 12 games.

Since last week’s First Game, Tappara have played two Liiga games: a 4-1 home win over Kärpät Oulu and a 5-1 road loss to Ässät Pori. They currently sit third in the standings with 40 points. Davos, meanwhile, have lost twice: 4-1 to Fribourg-Gottéron and 4-3 to ZSC Lions Zurich, and sit seventh with 32 points.