Only three points separates the top half of this Group from the bottom; a number which will inspire the latter and worry the prior. Minsk’s take no-prisoners attitude in their home fortress will have to come in trumps against Munich’s ace of Trevor Parkes if they are to win this game. The Canadian forward was just one of two players to score a double against the Belarussians in the first fixture except he didn’t stop there. He picked up one in Munich’s 5-1 dismantling of TPS Turku and another two in the reverse fixture, which they lost 5-3. Shutting him down will be paramount for Head Coach Mikhail Zakharov.

Minsk will hit their home ice once more but with some momentum this time after they took turns scoring goals with the Malmö Redhawks. The first game ended 4-1 to the Redhawks only for Minsk to return the favour with a 6-2 drubbing. The win kept their playoff hopes alive, which could soon become a reality if they are to give the Germans similar treatment to the Swedes in the Chizhovka Arena.