Read below for information about the eighth-final series between Fribourg-Gottéron and IFK Helsinki. IFK Helsinki won 5–3 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals. 

Game 2

The two teams tied their first game and it remained that way for a long time in the second game too. But on the power play with just 3:18 remaining in the third period, Jasse Ikonen re-directed a pass from Robert Leino past Benjamin Conz to put IFK in the lead. Ikonen was the only IFK shooter to beat Conz in the game, as he tied the game in the second period after Christian Dube had opened the scoring early for Fribourg. Conz stopped 30 of 32 shots in the game before Tomas Zaborsky wrapped up the game and series with an empty-net goal.

The hero of the night, Ikonen, called his series-winner "one of the most important goals of my career." As for the way the game progressed, he said, "At the start I think we were pretty nervous about the score and how the game was going to end. Fribourg was slightly better in the first period but in the second and third periods we managed to get control of the game."

READ the live blog here | WATCH the highlights here

Jasse Ikonen's series-winner for IFK Helsinki "one of the most important goals of my career"

Game 1

Twice Fribourg took the lead and twice IFK tied it, and that's how the first leg of this series ended, with the two teams knotted at 2. Benjamin Conz stopped 26 of 28 shots for Fribourg, while at the other end Ville Husso stopped 18 of 20. After a scoreless first period, Jeff Tambellini opened the scoring for the home Swiss side, but Nikolai Goldobin tied it on a spectacular one-handed deke. In the third it was defenceman David Wildhaber from the point for Fribourg and Tomas Zaborsky for IFK with 5:59 left to play. With this result, the winner of next week's game in Helsinki will advance to the quarter-finals.

"I‘m very happy with my goal. I like to take my chances from the blueline, this time it found the net and that’s a special moment to score in a CHL game." Wildhaber said about his goal. "Now we're tied after the first game, everything starts again from 0-0 next Tuesday and its like a final game. The series is wide-open and we'll have to find a way to win in Finland."

"My feelings after this game are quite mixed," said IFK coach Antti Tormanen. "We had a lot of chances and our efficiency was quite poor, which is the main reason why we didn’t win this game. But I'm also proud that my team found a way to come back twice after being 1–0 and 2–1 behind. This tie is not bad as a base for the home game. Next Tuesday we play in front of our crowd, on home ice, and we'll have to find the energy to play a strong game. We need a win, that's clear, but I am sure we can grab this one at home."

READ the live blog here | WATCH the highlights here

IFK Helsinki's Goldobin reflects on super goal

Preview

Despite not being the higher seeds, IFK Helsinki will go into this tie as slight favourites due to their much better domestic record. Fribourg-Gottéron may see the CHL as an escape though – a way to forget what’s going on in the NLA and find the form that put them on top of Group D. Goaltending is something the Finnish team will look to exploit, with their Swiss counterparts not having the best numbers from their starting netminder in the NLA – especially as IFK scored 21 goals at home in the group stage.

Closer look: Fribourg-Gottéron

(3-2-1-0, 14 points, 21:13, 1st in Group D)

Group D winners Fribourg-Gottéron came through the first round of the CHL without losing in regulation time. They lost out to Djurgården in Stockholm 5–4 in overtime, and beat Zlín twice 3–2 – once in OT, the other in a shootout. The Swiss side averaged 3.5 goals per game in the group stage, making shutting them down a key requirement. In the NLA, Fribourg haven’t had the best of starts by any stretch, with just two regulation wins in their first 17 games.

Greg

Mauldin

8+1, +8

 

CRAMO Top Scorer: American forward Greg Mauldin, who played 36 times in the NHL for Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche, signed with Fribourg-Gottéron in 2012. Since then, he has been a reliable scorer for the Swiss club, and is appreciated by the fans for his fighting spirit. In the CHL he has scored eight goals so far, which makes him the best goal scorer after the group stage.

 

Anthony

Huguenin

0+0, even

 

Top Defenceman: With nothing flashy on the back end and with already a lot of offence up front, the biggest challenge for Fribourg's defensive corps is keeping the puck out of their net. The only player in either NLA or CHL with more than four points is Anthony Huguenin with seven, including six assists.

 

Benjamin

Conz

88.52 %

 

Top Goaltender: Benjamin Conz only played two CHL games, but has faced the majority of minutes in the NLA. His high number of goals against and 88.52 save percentage in the CHL could be a concern in the next round. Young Melvin Nyffeler will be challenging for the starting job.

Click here for team statistics

Closer look: IFK Helsinki

(4-1-0-1, 14 points, 31:15, 2nd in Group J)

IFK Helsinki came through as a lucky runner up, after coming second to Skellefteå AIK in Group J. They did, though, finish some 10 points ahead of third place. Despite winning their home games by a combined score of 21-5, a point dropped in Krefeld cost them top spot. IFK are in the middle of the pack in Liiga play.

Teemu

Ramstedt

2+7, +8

 

CRAMO Top Scorer: Teemu Ramstedt is a highly skilled, creative centre whose best abilities are in the offensive zone. The home-grown player player scored nine points in seven games in the CHL group stage.

 

Lauri

Taipalus

2+1, even

 

Top Defenceman: Lauri Taipalus has been IFK's big producer from the back end in Liiga, with 11 points in his first 14 games. He also had three points in six CHL group-stage games.

 

Ville

Husso

91.76 %

 

Top Goaltender: Ville Husso has been one of the top goalies in the Liiga so far this season. He also recorded a save percentage of 91.76 in the CHL group stage.

 

Click here for team statistics

Related Links

03.11.2014 – Video: The best of Helsinki's red, white & blue

28.10.2014 – Video: IFK Helsinki's Ramstedt & Partanen look forward to Fribourg match-up

13.10.2014 – Club news: Fribourg make coaching change

09.09.2014 – Club news: Mauldin out 6 weeks with broken jaw

06.09.2014 – Interview: Fribourg goalie Melvin Nyffeler: "Nothing is for free in this league"

05.09.2014 – Interview: IFK's Ramstedt: "We're going at full speed from the very beginning"

06.06.2014 – Interview: Yohann Auvitu: "France and Finland are two very different countries"