Read below for more information on the eighth-final series between Lukko Rauma and Djurgarden Stockholm. Lukko won 4–2 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.

Game 2

Lukko Rauma became the first team to qualify for the CHL quarter-finals, and for them it's a return trip. They were in the driver's seat with a 1-goal lead on home ice, and increased it to 2 in the second period when Aaron Gagnon scored on a penalty shot. Mikael Ahlen got that one back for Djurgarden less than two minutes later, but they couldn't get another and Toni Koivisto's short-handed empty-netter with 1:19 to play sealed it.

“First of all congratulations to Lukko,” Djurgarden assistant coach Stefan Nyman began. “I think that, as I said earlier, once again this was a tight game between us and Lukko. I think it has been good two games for us and they could have gone either way. Today we should had scored on the power play opportunities we had. That would had led us to the next round.”

“I agree (with Nyman) that 5-on-5 the game was very similar to in Stockholm a week ago. Not a lot of chances at either end,” Lukko coach Juha Vuori replied. “We didn’t have as many special-teams opportunities as in the last game, obviously, since the third period there was so penalty-filled. Today we were able to play an okay penalty-killing game again and we were a little bit luckier on 5-on-5 chances.” 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Game 1

These two teams were tied 1–1 after 40 minutes and it appeared that's how it would end, but Illka Mikkola buried a low wrister just inside the post with 3:17 on the clock to give Lukko the win, and the lead on aggregate heading into their home game next week. Sami Lahteenmaki opened the scoring for Lukko in the 9th minute before Linus Hultstrom tied it for Djurgarden late in the second period of a defensive battle. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

This is the only Round of 16 match-up that features two teams that finished as runners-up in their original groups, but both finished 2 points back of the leaders, who are very strong teams. Lukko Rauma finished second in Group K behind the team that is fast becoming their arch-nemesis, defending European champions Lulea Hockey. Djurgarden Stockholm, meanwhile, finished second in Group B behind Finnish powerhouse Tappara Tampere, Liiga finalists from each of the past two seasons. In the Round of 32, Lukko took care of Red Bull Munich and Djurgarden edged the defending Swedish champion Vaxjo Lakers. With a combination of proven scorers, great goaltending, and more experience in the CHL, Lukko will be considered the favourites in this series, but Djurgarden have proven so far in the competition that they are are able to stay in step with some of Europe's top clubs.  

 

Closer look: Lukko Rauma

(3-1-1-1, 12 points, 19:15)

After their seemingly traditional group-stage battle with Lulea, Lukko Rauma finished as runners-up behind the defending CHL champions in Group K, with only victories over third-place Fribourg-Gotteron to their name – one in regulation, the other in overtime. In the Round of 16, they took care of Red Bull Munich with relative ease. Lukko got to the quarter-finals of last year's competition, beating TPS in the Round of 16 before going out to old friends Lulea in the quarters. Their experience of playing this deep in the CHL may come in useful against a team very new to the competition. Domestically, they've started this Liiga season in strong fashion, trailing only Tappara in the standings after 18 games, and have given up the fewest goals against in the league.  

Toni

Koivisto

4+5, +3

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Toni Koivisto is the team's top scorer in both the Liiga, and CHL, with 9 points in 6 CHL games and 17 points in 18 CHL games. He was especially productive in the Round of 32 against Munich, netting 5 points in the two games. Together with set-up man Janne Lahti, they form a dangerous scoring duo that Djurgarden will have to be wary of.  

 

Ilkka 

Mikkola

0+3, -3

 

Top Defenceman: Ilkka Mikkola is one of the most successful players in the Finnish Liiga with eight titles, and is a respected team leader. The experienced captain leads the game by playing conservatively in his own end every shift and starting attacks with accurate breakout passes. He's not easily agitated, but doesn’t hesitate to protect his net and goalie by any means necessary. Offensively, Janne Niskala scores at nearly a point-per-game pace in both the CHL and Liiga.

 

Ryan

Zapolski

94.62 %

 

Top Goaltender: Ryan Zapolski quickly became a Lukko fan favourite by keeping his first non-American team near the top of the Finnish Liiga in 2013–14 with confident goaltending. Ever consistent, only once has Zapolski finished a season with s ave percentage below 90 since his first NCAA season. He's a hero among Lukko fans, a well-liked teammate and an opposing forward’s worst nightmare. He has been just as strong domestically as in the CHL with the best goals-against average and save percentage.

 

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Djurgarden Stockholm

(3-1-1-1, 12 points, 20:17)

Djurgarden finished as group runners-up, but they gave Tappara a good run for their money atop Group B. They then played two very close games against Vaxjo, with very little to decide between the two teams – they earned a one-goal victory on home ice before earning a draw in Vaxjo, which was enough to see them through. They relied heavily on the goaltending of Mantas Armalis and Mikael Tellqvist to get them through against the offensive-minded Lakers club, and will probably have to again if they want to beat a Lukko team that is possibly even stronger up front. Domestically, Djurgarden have been average in this, their second SHL season since being promoted from the Allsvenskan, but their defence is ranked 3^rd in the league.  

Marcus

Sorensen

2+4, -1

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Marcus Sorensen leads Djurgarden in scoring after 6 CHL games with 6 points. Sorensen was also the top scorer for Djurgarden in the SHL last season. Besides Sorensen, Djurgarden's offence is expected to be lead by Norwegian Patrick Thoresen, who is back with the club after many years in the KHL, and Finn Tomi Sallinen – they are the team's top two scorers domestically. 

Linus

Hultstrom

1+4, +2

 

Top Defenceman: Djurgarden's defence is very young and unexperienced, with Marcus Hogstrom, age 26, their oldest defenceman. 22-year-old Linus Hultstrom has been a great off-season acquisition, as he leads the team offensively in both the CHL and SHL. The young d-man broke his teeth in the CHL last season with Linkoping, and is now proving to be a leader on the Djurgarden blue line. 

 

Mikael

Tellqvist

92.66 %

 

Top Goaltender: Djurgarden's goalies Mikael Tellqvist and Mantas Armalis have played three games each so far in the CHL. However, it is 36-year-old Tellqvist, who has many seasons in the NHL and KHL under his belt, who is expected to be the number-one choice. A product of the Djurgarden system, Tellqvist is now in his second season back with the club of his youth.

 

Click here for team statistics.