Both clubs came away with dominant wins in their respective Game Day 1 match-ups: Kölner Haie defeated Red Bull Salzburg 5-2, while Tappara Tampere handed Bílí Tygři Liberec their first loss of the season in a 6-3 showing.

Despite their undisciplined play, the Germans were still able to come away with the win. Cologne allowed 10 powerplay opportunities to the Austrians, but fortunately, their PK was up to the task only allowing one man-advantage goal and even securing a short-handed tally courtesy of Louis-Marc Aubry. As they prepared to face off against a tough opponent in Tappara, Cologne would do well to re-evaluate their 5-on-5 play when it comes to staying out of the box, as the Finns have already shown a penchant for scoring with the extra attacker, netting three against the Czechs.

For Tappara, Aapeli Räsänen was the man of the hour against Liberec, securing his first hattrick of the season, including scoring the very first goal of the 2026/27 season. Benjamin Rautiainen also had a career night, notching three assists.

If they're able to match this same intensity against the Germans, their chances of winning become all but guaranteed. Where the Finns do need to watch is their inability to mitigate the high-danger chances they give their opponents - the Czechs scored twice from these areas. Being more adept at defending these areas will only increase their chances of coming away with another win.