In the last game of the Group Stage for both teams, the winner goes on and the winner goes home when HC Lugano visits JYP Jyväskylä. 

Heading into last week’s game in Switzerland between these same two teams, JYP had a three-point lead in the Group H standings and needed only two points to secure a place in the Round of 16. However, they got nothing as Lugano won 2-0 thanks to two goals from Gregory Hofmann and 22 saves from Elvis Merzlikins. Now, heading into the rematch in Finland, both teams have six points and the winner, regardless of whether it’s in regulation or extra time, will advance. This creates the interesting scenario where both of last year's finalists could be finished in this year's Group Stage, with the Växjö Lakers eliminated last week.

Neither of these teams has been particularly strong domestically so far. Since last Tuesday’s game, JYP have lost twice, 1-0 at home to Kärpät on Thursday and 3-2 in overtime at SaiPa. They currently sit 12th in the 15-team Liiga with 14 points in 12 games. Lugano, meanwhile, are 9th in the 12-team Swiss National League. Over the weekend, they lost 2-1 in Fribourg and won 6-0 at home to Rapperswil-Jona.

With his two goals last week, Hofmann now has five in five Champions Hockey League games, which ties him for the team lead in points with Jani Lajunen. Domestically, Lajunen’s six points ties him for the team lead with Maxim Lapierre and Mauro Jörg. Since being cut by the Florida Panthers last week, Finnish forward Henrik Haapala has yet to make his Lugano debut, but he's on their CHL roster and there's a good chance he could play in his home country. As JYP were shut out last week, David Tomášek continues to be the team’s LGT Top Scorer in the CHL with six points - Jarkko Immonen’s nine points lead the team domestically.