- Bremerhaven looking for 3rd win in four games
- Rouen searching for first points of the season
- Bremerhaven strong PP & weak PK; Rouen weak PP & strong PK.
German runners-up Pinguins Bremerhaven host the French champion Rouen Dragons in a match-up of two teams headed in opposite directions.
Bremerhaven have six points after three games, starting with an impressive split at home against a pair of Swiss teams and are coming off a dominant 5-0 victory over Danish champions SønderjyskE Vojens on Thursday. The team’s powerplay was particularly potent in that game, striking three times in the first two periods to put the game out of reach. Maximilian Franzreb recorded is now one of four goalies to record a shutout in the CHL this season.
The Pinguins have been led offensively by three Slovenes, with Žiga Jeglič and Jan Urbas recording three points each and Miha Verlič with two. The trio has been especially potent on the powerplay. Verlič is the team leader with nine shots on goal, and leads forwards with an average ice time of 17:53. The team’s overall ice-time leader with 21:31 is defenceman Phillip Bruggisser, who also has three points and is a +4. Thanks to Thursday’s performance, Bremerhaven’s powerplay is tied for fifth in the CHL at 27.27% although, at 62.50%, their PK is ranked 19th.
Rouen knew their road in the CHL would be difficult indeed it has been, as they are still searching for their first points of the season. The Dragons performed respectably in their first two games at home, losing narrowly, but were overmatched by Finnish powerhouses Tappara Tampere on Thursday, losing 6-1.
Jared Dmytriw leads the Dragons offensively with four points through three games. He and young French talent Tomas Simonsen are also the team leaders with two goals and eight shots each. Defencemen Juho Tommila and Alexander Lindelöf both have four blocked shots for Rouen, and Finnish goaltender Oskari Setänen has played all three games so far with an 85.15% save percentage, although the quality of shots he’s faced has certainly been a factor in that.
In contrast with Bremerhaven's strong powerplay and weak penalty-kill, Rouen has the 18th-ranked PP at 10% but their PK is ranked 6th at 91.67%.