One of only three teams to lose at home last week, Adler Mannheim have a tough task ahead of them as they head to Gävle a goal down. It could have been a bigger mountain to climb were it not for Matthias Plachta’s late goal to close the gap.

Brynäs climbed out of the relegation places in the SHL with a win over fellow strugglers Mora over the weekend, their first after three consecutive losses.

“We're in a good spot ahead of this game. We played pretty well in Mannheim, but have to stay out of the box and be careful – they're a skilled team if we give them chances,” admitted Juuso Ikonen. “We need to be patient and responsible with the puck. I think we have good chances, but they're a good team so we have to be aware.”

By contrast, Mannheim have won five straight in the DEL and hadn’t conceded a goal in almost three games before letting in a tying goal to Nurnberg with only four seconds left in the game on Sunday. Only a goal behind at puck drop, the team think they can get the job done.  

“We had a slow start, wanted to win and go with a lead but it didn't happen. We have to take the game to them,” said Plachta, reflecting on last week and what the team needs to do in Sweden. “Everything's open, it's two good teams playing each other and it's not like we can't win in Sweden.”