Malmö Redhawks and SC Bern is a battle between to teams that would both look to go an awful lot further than the Round of 16 in this season's competition.
Both sides have been hanging around the top spots in their own league for the majority of the season so far, and both qualified for the CHL playoffs relatively comfortably.
Malmö came through their group with only losses in Minsk & Munich, but were through before the last day had begun. Up front they're led by Emil Sylvegård in goals (4), while Martin Janolhs and Fredrik Händemark both have seven points each overall to lead the team in points. Emil's brother Marcus leads the team in goals domestically. Oscar Alsenfelt and Christopher Nilstorp split netminding duties during the group stage with three games each, and although Nihlstorp has a significantly better save percentage (93.98% vs. 86.08%) in the CHL the two have also split time in the SHL relatively evenly as well. The Redhawks won their Group on the last Game Day by beating Munich comfortably to earn the better Head-to-Head over the German side.
Conversely, if SC Bern go out at this stage they may come to regret the last minute goal they conceded in Salzburg - which meant they went into the draw as a group runner-up rather than winner. The Swiss side were through after Game Day 5 as they beat the Red Bulls in a shootout before losing the away game. They won through at this stage last season by beating Munich over two legs, despite losing the home game. With the first game in Malmö due to arena availability, SCB should fancy their chances if they're still in the matchup after 60 minutes in Sweden, having not lost at home in the CHL for several seasons. They'll look to Top Scorer Jan Muršak, who's 3+2 in six games; while in their own National League veteran Andrew Ebbett leads the team for goals and points. Goalie Leonardo Genoni has played every game so far and sits with 93.71% of shots saved.