The situation for Wednesday night’s game in Zurich is simple: the winner moves on to the next round and the loser is finished for the season, at least as far as the Champions Hockey League is concerned. Heading into last week’s game in Klagenfurt, the ZSC Lions had a one-point lead in the standings, but that was erased by Klagenfurt’s 2-1 overtime victory, meaning both teams go into this contest even in points with 8.

“It will be a very tough game on Wednesday. KAC has a good fighting team and we have to play our best to win and go into the playoffs,” said Zurich head coach Hans Wallson.

"The fact that we are still battling for a shot at the knockout stage in a group with great powers such as Frölunda and Zurich on the last day was probably not expected before the start of the season,” said Klagenfurt forward Stefan Geier, who is acting as team captain with twin brother Manuel out of the lineup. “If you look at our five previous games in this competition, it is obvious that we have earned this position and this opportunity fair and square. Of course, we do not go in as favourites in this showdown in Switzerland, but we only proved last week that we can also force a top European club to its knees. On Wednesday, we’ll leave everything on the ice and see if we can do it a second time.”

The fortunes of both teams have mirrored each other domestically as well. Klagenfurt currently sit fifth in the EBEL standings while the ZSC Lions are sixth in the Swiss National League. Both teams have won and lost since Tuesday’s meeting in Klagenfurt.