This is a matchup between two teams in the Champions Hockey League Round of 16 for the first time. In their first appearance in the Champions Hockey League, the Malmö Redhawks won Group B and are in the Round of 16. Oceláři Třinec, meanwhile, played in two previous CHL seasons.

Třinec finished second in Group D, winning four of six games, taking four of six points from defending Swedish champions HV71 Jönköping. In the Czech Extraliga, the Steelers have been on a roll lately and are now in second place. They have won five of seven games heading into the break, although they were shut out on home ice by Mountfield HK 3-0 on Sunday.

Perhaps the biggest reason for Třinec’s success this season is the goaltending of Simon Hrubec and his CHL-leading save percentage of 97.71, playing in five of the Steelers’ six group-stage games. Domestically, he has been no less impressive in 16 of the team’s 19 games. Martin Růžička and Tomáš Marcinko each have 21 points in the Extraliga, with Růžička recording seven points in the CHL group stage.

The Redhawks announced a resurgence to prominence in the SHL with a semi-final appearance this season but started slowly in the regular season this year. However, they currently have a four-game SHL winning streak and have moved up to fifth place with at least one game in hand on most teams. They started the CHL by blowing a lead in Kuopio but after that won five of six to top their group, finishing up by taking four of six points from defending Czech champs Kometa Brno.

The Redhawks have mostly done it with Oscar Alsenfelt in goal, with Cristopher Nihlstorp also playing well when healthy. Lukas Haudum is the team’s CHL Top Scorer with six points, while they are led domestically by Dane Frederik Storm, who has 11 points in 13 games.