A game that on the face of it looks like an ordinary Game Day 4 meeting in the 2023/24 season of the Champions Hockey League has a lot more on show once you dig deeper. Actually, it doesn't get more tense than this.

For starters, both Red Bull Salzburg and the Stavanger Oilers enter their fourth game of the season with 0 wins and in desperate need of some points as Stavanger have just one, while Salzburg have none - ouch.

Furthermore, a deep dive into the CHL history books reveals these two teams met for two Group Stage games last season. Their first clash was so close it went to overtime where the Austrians snagged the win thanks to Florian Baltram's game-winner.

When they met the following week in Stavanger, Norway, it was everything to play for once again. And, funnily enough, 60 minutes again proved insufficient in separating these two, as did OT, meaning a shootout was in order. Salzburg once again reigned supreme but two agonisingly close games have made these teams the closest of rivals. 

Stavanger looked marginally in better form heading into this game, - the Norwegians played two very close games against reigning SHL champions Växjö Lakers and 2022 victors Färjestad Karlstad, while Salzburg suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Skellefteå AIK on season-opening night and a closer 3-2 loss to Adler Mannheim on Game Day 2.

But Game Day 3 flipped that all around. Salzburg had a tough game against ERC Ingolstadt at home, which again ended with 0 points for the Austrians, wheras Stavanger faced Dynamo Pardubice, suffering a heavy 5-1 blow. Salzburg improved on past performances, spending substantial time on the puck, testing their powerplay and PK units and outshooting the visitors 29-23, but for Stavanger, it seemed like a step in the wrong direction.

A key area the reigning ICE champions are lacking in is scoring as they head into this game with a mere goal-per-game average. On the flip side, Stavanger haven't had issues up front but have struggled defensively.

Both sides know that to keep their hopes of making the Playoffs alive they need to win points - fast, and is the case when these two meet, this is going to be one gladiator battle to get them!