Last week’s game between Skellefteå AIK and ZSC Lions Zurich went back and forth and saw plenty of goals. Joakim Lindström led Skellefteå with four points and Dennis Hollenstein and Sven Andrighetto had two each for Zurich. As things stand now, the difference was a shot by Lindström that dribbled across the goal line with 11:57 to play in the First Game in northern Sweden.

The furthest ZSC Lions Zurich have advanced was to the Quarter-Finals in 2016/17. Skellefteå went as far as the Semi-Finals in 2014/15 and then to the Quarter-Finals in 2015/16.

Andrightto with eight points is Zurich’s leader in the CHL, followed by defenceman Mikko Lehtonen with seven. Domestically, Lehtonen leads with 17 points in 18 games.

Skellefteå also have a high-scoring defenceman in Jonathan Pudas, who has 24 points in 19 SHL games. Forward Rickard Hugg is the scoring leader in the CHL with 10 points in six games.

In goal, the Lions have Šimon Hrubec, who won the CHL MVP award in 2017/18, the year he backstopped Oceláři Třinec to a berth in the Semi-Finals. Skellefteå have Gustaf Lindvall, who has appeared in 24 CHL games for Skelleftea over five seasons.

Since last week’s First Game, Zurich have played one National League game, beating HC Davos 4-3 in overtime. They currently sit fourth in the standings with 34 points. Skellefteå have also played one SHL game, beating Timra IK 2-1 on the road, and sit tied for second in the SHL standings

The Return Game will also be the first CHL game in Zurich’s brand-new Swiss Life Arena.