In an unfortnate turn of events, first-time Champions Hockey League Playoffs qualifiers the Lahti Pelicans of Finland were forced to forfeit their game against Czech Extraliga side Vítkovice Ridera resulting in an automatic 3-0 loss. The forfeit pushes the Finnish side into a tough position, while Vítkovice will reap the benefit of a sizable three-goal buffer.

CHL returnees Lahti marked their return to the pan-European competition with Playoffs qualification against a variety of Europe's very best teams. Four wins in six games made a solid case for the Finnish team who moved on to the next phase of the competition from eighth place, just one place ahead of their Round of 16 opponents Vítkovice. 

Looking back at their road to the Playoffs, it's impossible to miss their crazy Game Day 2 clash against the Rouen Dragons which saw a jaw-dropping eight goals in the opening frame. Lahti showed their experience in the later periods, calming down the back-and-forth play to take an important three points. 

It's also impossible to miss their Game Day 3 clash with Vítkovice in the Isku Areena, which saw the Finns slot four into the Czech side's net to take a very solid shutout win. Aatu Jämsen and CHL superstar Ryan Lasch were both on the scoresheet that night and that's been a common theme for Lahti this season, with the duo pestering opponents on the Finnish club's Regular Season European crusade. 

Jämsen, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, scored a massive four points (1G+3A) against Rouen, while Lasch, our All-Time Top Scorer and overall CHL legend, scored 2G+2A against Vítkovice.

The duo lead the team in scoring, but six-point D-man Kasper Puutio deserves a shout as a strong powerplay player and young talent to watch out for. 

On the flip side are Vítkovice who have had a very strong return to the pan-European stage. With four wins and two losses, they finished the Regular Season as the top-ranked Czech team. 

Vítkovice are very much an all-or-nothing team - they go out for it all. Bar their two losses, the Ostrava-based club have scored 4+ in each of their games and sport the CHL's top-ranked Powerplay which has been operating at a perfect 32%!

In net, Matěj Machovský has been superb, ending his three-game Regular Season stint with a 96%+ Save %, one shutout and nearly 100 saves. 

Up front, Vítkovice Ridera have a captain who leads by example and his name is Dominik Lakatoš! 

The 184cm, 97kg forward isn't afraid of anything and with four goals and five assists in six games, he's been the main man behind Vítkovice's strong display on the European stage - something they have been lacking domestically in the last few months. 

The 26-year-old is one of the highest-scoring players after the Regular Season and with 24 shots on goal and two game-winning goals, he's the one to go to when you need results. Also, his 75% face-off win is just crazy. 

Lakatoš aside, Vítkovice sport six more players who have been scoring at a rate of a point per game or more which is very strong. 

They have no issue scoring, but defending has been a struggle for the Czechs and looking back at their less-than-ideal record against Lahti, they enter this tie with a lot to make up. 

Expect lots of goals when these two meet but be wary of individual performances as both sides have strong personalities that can decide games themselves.