In eight games Tuesday, eight teams advanced – even a couple who didn't play. Read what coaches and players had to say afterwards.
BK Mlada Boleslav 3 – 2 Yunost Minsk
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Despite the win, Mlada Boleslav cannot advance. They might finish tied in points with either Yunost or the Vaxjo Lakers, but they will lose the tie-breaker to both.
"I told everybody we would go to the next round," an ecstatic Yunost coach Mikhail Zaharov said at the end. "We're going to the next round and we're very happy."
“We wanted to win at home in front of our home crowd,” a disappointed Mlada Boleslav coach Frantisek Vyborny began. “Even though we did, it still leaves a bitter taste because we didn't get the necessary goals. With the score 3-0, it seemed like a relatively straightforward matter, but then came two unnecessary penalties and suddenly it was all different.
“These Champions League games have been excellent, whether it was Minsk or Vaxjo. For the boys, especially for the young ones, it's a great experience.”
HK Nitra 2 – 1 Stavanger Oilers
HK Nitra won their third straight game to not only secure a spot in the Round of 32, but clinch first place in Group J. Second place will be decided in the last game when Stavanger visit Pilsen.
“The game looked like the one in Norway,” Nitra coach Andre Kmec began. “There were phases of the game when we were better and others where they were. The players seemed a little bit nervous. They knew we had it in our hands and we could qualify. In general, we played really well against tough opponents who skate really well. We're glad we've been able to hold our own and win against teams of this calibre.”
Nitra forward Marek Slovak said, “We went into the game with the aim to qualify and we wanted to do everything for it. Simply, we went for the win. After two periods, we told ourselves that we would fight for it and we would defend it. We did it - the Norwegians put on the pressure pressure, but we held on. I think the three points are deserved.”
“It was a difficult game,” said Stavanger coach Pal Gulbrandsen. “We started the first period a little bit sleepy but got better as it went on. It's hard to win a hockey game if you score only once. We had a lot of opportunities to score but we did not succeed in the key moments. It was hard battle, the boys fought with all their might, but it was not enough in the end.”
Red Bull Munich 3 – 1 Fribourg-Gotteron
Red Bull Munich needed only a point to advance but got a win against Fribourg-Gotteron, who had already secured top spot in Group F. That eliminates Orli Znojmo.
"It was a complete team win in a must-win game for us if we wanted to try and win our group," said Red Bulls coach Don Jackson after the game. “We want to win on Friday although we don't need to do anything more, but we're in good shape for that game."
"We didn't play well today. They were a much better team and deserved to win. They put us under a lot of pressure, and we didn't know how to react," admitted Fribourg coach Gerd Zenhausern. "Credit to Munich, but we need to be better in the opening of games going forward."
Lorenskog IK 1 – 2 Bili Tygri Liberec
It was a game where Lorenskog could have advanced with a regulation win, but instead it was visiting Liberec who took the three points and will advance to the Round of 32 at Lorenskog's expense.
“It was a close game,” said Liberec coach Filip Pesan. “Both teams played very hard. It was a similar game as back home in Liberec. We out-shot them by quite a bit again today, but we weren't effective and their goalie was very good, but our finish around the net needs to get better.”
About qualifying for the next round, Pesan said, “That was our first goal of the season, to advance from the group stage, so we're all happy for it.”
“It was of course a very deserved victory,” Lorenskog coach Kenneth Larsen. “Even though we fought hard, we were put under a lot off pressure in the first period. They skated hard and pressured us into making mistakes and got some chances, but (goalie) Jeff Jakaitis managed to keep us in the game. The second period was a little more even and the third period I think was evenly matched and we managed to win that period. We were hoping to get that equalizer. Our plan was to be patient, because we could not really pressure too hard against a team like them. So we tried to be patient and gradually take more chances. And I thought we succeeded. The boys did a great job. We had some injuries so had to shorten the bench. We had to at least win in overtime to have a chance of advancing to the next round. We couldn't do it, but I think the boys played a great game.”
ERC Ingolstadt 1 – 6 Lukko Rauma
Lukko Rauma are on to the CHL's knockout stage for the third straight year after a 6-1 win in Ingolstadt.
Ingolstadt coach Tommy Samuelsson said, "We had our chances and reacted very well after the 2-0 goal, but if you don't score, then each goal against you costs more. The 3-1 goal early in the third period was the goal that won the game."
"We started well and had chances,” thought Ingolstadt forward Martin Buchwieser, “but we lost our concentration for a few minutes and they got a few goals against us. If you aren't concentrated for 60 minutes at this level, then this happens. On Saturday we want to win out last game."
Lukko coach Juha Vuori said, “We started nervous after the tough game in Zurich. At the beginning of the game we made a lot of mistakes on offence and defence. Our goalie was good tonight and also our experienced players were good."
Rouen Dragons 2 – 3 HC Davos (OT)
Rouen played their best CHL game yet and got their first point, but it wasn't enough to prevent them from being eliminated. With the win, HC Davos and Djurgarden Stockholm both advance from Group B.
"That was a good game, a hard one, but we managed to get the win," said Davos coach Arno del Curto. "It was a great atmosphere here when Rouen pulled the game back and then tied it up. We didn't play well, took too many penalties – enough for about seven games – but in the end we got the win."
SC Bern 5 – 0 Black Wings Linz
Bern had already clinched top spot in the group, but the Black Wings still had a chance to advance with a point. They didn't get it, however, bowing out of the CHL with a 5-0 defeat.
"It was a really good, solid 60 minutes. I felt we got better as the game went on too, offensively we were strong and defensively sound," said Kari Jalonen, Bern coach, after the game. "Four games and four wins are the result of the team getting better with each game."
"I think the key point in the game was the second goal at the end of the second period. Before that, we had some good chances but didn't manage to tie it, then they got a lucky goal and killed our morale," conceded Linz coach Rob Daum after the game. "They're a good team with a lot of quickness and strength, and as the game wore on this took its toll on us."
EV Zug 3 – 2 Esbjerg Energy (PS)
EV Zug had already secured top spot in the group, but upstart Esberg still have a shot at advancing and got their first CHL point this game. That temporarily puts them in second place in the group over IFK Helsinki who are still without a point. Esbjerg and IFK still have to play each other twice.