The Straubing Tigers host Dynamo Pardubice in a game between two teams that are both on the good side of the CHL Playoff divide, but would both like a win in this game to put themselves on more solid footing.

Straubing took five of six points in their first two games and home and were then agonizingly close to winning away against ZSC Lions Zurich on Friday, leading 2-1 with five minutes to play, but a pair of late Zurich goals meant the Tigers left town with no points. That makes this game against Pardubice especially crucial for them – it’s Straubing’s last home game and a loss could see them drop out of the Playoff picture.

Straubing’s top scorer so far is defenceman Marcel Brandt, who is also one of two players in the CHL to have 17 shots on goal, is the team’s co-leader with seven hits and is second in ice-time to defensive partner Justin Braun with 21:36 minutes on average per fame. Forward Cole Fonstad is their only player with two goals. Straubing’s powerplay is tied for fifth in the CHL at 26.32% and their PK has been perfect so far – killing off all five powerplays against them so far – but that could be tested against Pardubice’s dangerous PP.

Pardubice won their first two games at home in convincing fashion before losing in a shootout to Eisbären Berlin on Friday in their first road game, with a late goal by Roman Červenka salvaging a point. With seven points, they’re still in fine shape after three game days – in a five-way tie for third place – but they would love to get back on the winning path in Straubing and set themselves up in a comfortable position.

After three games, Červenka is one of three players with six points in the CHL, while Martin Kaut is one of two players with four goals. Červenka is also the competition’s plus-minus leader at +6, followed closely by Lukáš Sedlák at +5. Kaut is tied with Straubing’s Brandt with 17 shots on goal. As a team, Pardubice have the CHL’s second-best powerplay at 30.77%, although their PK is third-worst at 50.00%.