With the Champions Hockey League playoffs due to begin in just over a week, how are the remaining 32 teams doing in their respective leagues after the opening few weeks? We take a look!
Having got all six of their teams through to then next round for the first time, Switzerland's NLA was the surprise league of the CHL group stage with Swiss teams impressing throughout. With at least eight rounds completed for all teams, ZSC Lions lead the CHL teams in second place (two points behind current leaders Lausanne), a pair of points above Zug. Bern and Davos also sit in the early playoff pictures, both tied for sixth place on 12 points. Only Lugano and Fribourg sit outside the top eight, the former only two points shy while the latter have managed just one regulation NLA win in their opening eight games.
Moving north to Germany, and the opening weeks of the DEL season see Red Bull Munich and Eisbaren Berlin both involved in a four-way tie for top spot with Kolner Haie and Straubing. Wolfsburg, the only other German side left in the CHL, sit in mid table with a 50% record from four games.
Over in Austria, the EBEL's sole CHL representatives, Red Bull Salzburg, were knocked off top spot Sunday night after going down 5-3 in Vienna. Linz lead the league, although tied on points with the Red Bulls and Innsbruck, with Hungarian side Fehervar AV19 just a point behind. It's worth watching out for the side from Szekesfehervar, as no Hungarian team has yet taken part in the CHL. Across the border in Slovakia, Kosice lead the way followed by Nitra – both of whom have made it to the CHL's Round of 32.
In Belarus, Yunost Minsk have had a perfect start to their regular season with five wins from as many games – a record they share at the top of the Extraliga with Molodechno. Moving back west, in the Czech Extraliga only Liberec feature in the top five with 10 points from six games. Sparta sit two places further down, with Vitkovice in 10th and Pilsen 12th. The latter two teams have only one regular win to their name after six games, although the Ostrava side have picked up two 2-point wins as well.
Moving up to Scandinavia, the SHL table sees Vaxjo (2), Farjestad (3), Skelleftea (4), and HV71 (6) all in the top six places after two rounds each. Djurgarden sits in place number eight with a win and a loss from their opening pair of games, while Frolunda have just one win for their first three. Linkoping are a place below the defending CHL champions in twelfth with only an OTL from their three outings so far this season.
Finally in Finland, which saw all eight of its CHL teams kale the next round, and thus has over half of its Liiga still alive in the competition, KalPa top the table with 11 points from five rounds – while Tappara, HIFK, and TPS all lead the chase having only been involved in four rounds each respectively. SaiPa, JYP, and Karpat are all separated by just two points in the middle of the table, while Lukko Rauma currently prop up the table with just two points from four rounds and without a win to their name so far.