Read below for information on the eighth-final series between Storhamar Hamar and TPS Turku. TPS won 6–4 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.

Game 2

It was a magical ride while it lasted, but the clock has struck midnight for Storhamar Hamar, who came up just short against TPS Turku. Leading by a goal on aggregate, TPS increased it to 2 on an early power play. The never-say-die Dragons got it back courtesy Jason Bergland midway through the game, and then they pressed for the series equalizer. In the last minute, they pulled the goalie for a sixth attacker, but Henrik Tallinder scored for TPS to win the game and wrap up a quarter-final berth.

“I am proud of our guys, we fought very hard, but in the end TPS deserved to go through to the quarter-finals,” said Storhamar assistant coach Pal Johnsen.  “Jacob Berglund scored a very beautiful goal, and if the opponent gives him a bit of time and space he can make magic happen.”

Storhamar goalie Oskar Ostlund thought, “We played a solid defensive game, and our defenders helped me alot with blocking shots and helping me, so that I was able to track the shots. Too bad we only scored 1 goal – that makes it hard to win, even though it still was close. This is the end of an epic adventure, and we now can focus fully on our league games!”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Game 1

For a while it looked like Storhamar would consider their improbable dominance in the CHL, scoring 3 goals in the first period. It was all TPS after that, however, as they scored 4 straight to win 4–3 win, and they'll take a 1-goal lead to Norway. Veteran defenceman Petteri Nummelin, former teammate of Storhamar coach Alexander Smirnov, provided the offensive spark for TPS by scoring a goal on a two-man advantage and assisting on 2 others. 

"That was an interesting and exciting game," TPS head coach Ari-Pekka Selin said afterward. "We started the game well, but we also allowed three very weak goals. The situation was really bad. Of course we came on strong in the second period and then our leader of the night, Petteri Nummelin played an amazing period. We knew that Storhamar is a dangerous and hard working team and tonight we really felt that it is so. Let's see what happens next week."

Storhamar coach Smirnov agreed, stating, "In the first period, we played very well and scored three goals, but in the second we ade mistakes in our zone and in the neutral zone. TPS are a very good team. They put a lot of pressure on us and played some physical hockey. In the third we stabilized our game, but one more mistake in the neutral zone led to the fourth goal. I don't think we were bad today. Next week, it's a new game."

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

Norwegian giant killers Storhamar shocked in the group stage by winning in both Prague and Geneva on back-to-back nights, eventually finishing first in a Group M they were expected to finish last in. They then made short work of Red Bull Salzburg in the Round of 32, out-scoring the Austrian champs 6–3 on aggregate to reach the Round of 16. Waiting for them is another team that some think has over-achieved to get here. TPS Turku are coming off a disastrous 2015–16 campaign but have looked mighty impressive so far this season. After winning a group that included Dusselforfer EG and the Black Wings Linz, TPS faced a stiff test in the Round of 32 against JYP Jyvaskyla. However, after drawing in Jyvaskyla, TPS won 4–1 at home to advance. Now each of these teams have their eyes on a berth in the elite eight – a place TPS got to last season, but Storhamar didn't even dream of heading into this year's CHL competition.   

Closer look: Storhamar Hamar

(5-0-0-1, 15 points, 18:7)

As mentioned, Storhamar were expected to finish last in Group M, but instead finished first. To the surprise of many, they have taken 15 of a possible 18 points to not only reach the Round of 16, but earn home-ice advantage in the possibly decisive second game. However, starting on the road will be no problem for this team, as they are perfect away from home so far, including an impressive two-games-in-two-nights sweep in Prague and Geneva. Storhamar also started strong in their domestic campaign, but have since fallen back to the middle of the pack in the Norwegian Ligaen. Does that mean their magic has run out? Hard to say, but hard work has brought them far under coach Alexander Smirnov, and for sure “the Dragons” will do all they can to be successful against their coach's former team.

Jacob

Berglund

3+3, +3

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Swedish forward Jacob Berlund is in his second season in Storhamar. He led the team in scoring last season and after being re-united with old pal Hampus Gustafsson this off-season, has formed a potent line along with Alexander Reichenberg. Berglund is Storhamar's top scorer in both the Ligaen and CHL, and had 4 points in the two games against Salzburg in the Round of 32.  

 

Christian

Bull

0+5, +3

 

Top Defenceman: Few would have had young Christian Bull down as a dominant force on Storhamar's blue line in the CHL this season. However, the 19-year-old took to the bigger stage like a duck to water and has so far served up 5 assists. He has also done very well helping out the team’s strong defence. 

 

Oskar

Ostlund

96.32 %

 

Top Goaltender: Storhamar have had great goaltending all season, both in the CHL and in Ligaen play. Robert Hestmann and Oskar Ostlund have shared playing time equally and have a combined save percentage of 96! While it's difficult to pick between the two, Ostlund played both games against Salzburg and his numbers are slightly better than those of incumbant starter Hestmann, but we could easily see both goalies against TPS. 

 

Click here for team statistics.

 

Closer look: TPS Turku

(3-1-2-0, 13 points, 21:12)

With an exciting roster and a new head coach in the form of Ari-Pekka Selin, TPS Turku look to be a team on the rise. After finishing 13^th out of 14 teams in the Finnish Liiga each of the last three seasons, the team seems to have turned the ship around – they sit 5^th after 17 games. They showed where they stand against other Finnish teams by finishing off perennial contenders JYP in the Round of 32, and now face an opponent in the Round of 16 that shouldn't be a favourite but nobody has been able to solve so far. TPS will want to get a jump on Storhamar when they start the series in Finland and get the win, as heading into the stormy atmosphere of the Dragons' den for the return game will be a lot more palatable with a lead in hand.  

Dave

Spina

3+5, +4

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: TPS are relying heavily on experience this season. One of those is Dave Spina, acquired from SaiPa in the off-season. A proven scorer, Spina has done that in both the Liiga and CHL, and was especially clutch in the second game against JYP, where his 3 goals provided the necessary difference in the 3-goal aggregate win. Also, newly-named captain Tomi Kallio has also proven to be more than a reliable scorer, having developed some nice chemistry with linemate Lauri Tukonen. 

 

Henrik

Tallinder

2+2, +4

 

Top Defenceman: Swedish stalwart Henrik Tallinder was acquired to become the solid rock, around which the TPS defence would be built. He has been just that. Tallinder is one of the leaders of the team and leads by example by thwarting the opposition’s offence time after time. On top of that, Tallinder has also chipped in offensively, leading club defencemen in points in both the CHL and Liiga. Another blueliner to watch is veteran Tomas Mojzis, with 3 points and an impressive +9 in six games.

 

Teemu

Lassila

94.37 %

 

Top Goaltender: Teemu Lassila has offered his team solid goaltending work during the five games he's played so far. His stats are impressive: a save percentage of 94.37 and he let only 1.55 goals behind him per game. Alexander Georgiyev played only one game and let four goals in against Dusseldorf. As well, Lassila has been getting about two-thirds of the workload in Liiga play, so it is clear that he is TPS's number-one goaltender.

 

Click here for team statistics.