In between two busy Tuesdays, ERC Ingolstadt host Frolunda Gothenburg in the lone CHL game this week to open their Round of 32 series. With two of the highest-scoring teams in the group stage going head to head, you won't want to miss it!

by Efraim Larsson

Frolunda Gothenburg made it to the Final in last season’s Champions Hockey League, infamously blowing a 2–0 lead and losing 4–2 in Lulea. They go into today’s game as the seeded side, qualifying for the Round of 32 by winning Group N - beating both JYP Jyvaskyla and the Sheffield Steelers in regulation time twice each.

The Indians go into this game on a rich vain of form, having started the season at a tremendous pace. Undefeated in eight total CHL and SHL games, taking 22 of a possible 24 points, if you count pre-season exhibition games as well, Frolunda have won their last 11 straight games.

Their combination of excellent offense and solid goaltending has helped them this far. Offensively, Frolunda have scored 15 goals for in four SHL games (3.75 per game), led by Spencer Abbott (3), Joel Lundqvist, Johan Sundstrom and Ryan Lasch (2 each). In the CHL, Lasch leads all Frolunda forwards with 7 points (3 goals + 4 assists). Their goal difference of +15 was the best in the entire group stage, backed up well by goalies Lars Johansson and Johan Gustafsson. Johansson started three of the four CHL games and allowed four goals on 55 shots, while Gustafsson stopped 26 of 27 shots in Jyvaskyla.

On the other side of the ice tonight, and with home support behind them, is German club ERC Ingolstadt. Ingolstadt failed to make it into the last 16 last season, finishing last in theor group – but they did however win the DEL title in 2014 and rmade it all the way to the play-off finals this year – only to lose in the final. Ingolstadt’s problem in the group stage was their away form – losing in both Vaxjo and Braehead, however they are undefeated on home ice in the CHL this season.

Just like Frolunda, Ingolstadt are an offensively skilled team, scoring 16 goals in the group stage they are led by overall scoring leader John Laliberte with 10 points (4 + 6), and Petr Taticek close behind with  9 (4 + 5).

Goalies Marco Eisenhut and Timo Pielmeier, have had tough times delivering good numbers in the CHL group stage, Eisenhut playing 1½ games, saving 27 of 31 shots and Pielmeier 58 of 66 shots in 3 ½ games. Ingolstadt have won two of their six DEL games, with both wins coming on home ice along with one loss. With three consecutive DEL losses and two CHL defeats on top of that, this home game will be very important for Ingolstadt if they want to advance to the next round.

“Without a doubt, Frolunda is a very strong team to play against and the team to beat,” said Ingolstadt forward Alexander Barta, who has played in Sweden. “In two games, however, everything should be possible.”

“We go there with the ambition to play our game and force them to adapt to us. We will take hold of the game,” Frolunda coach Roger Ronnberg told his club’s website., “Oliver Bohm is staying home, Oliver Lauridsen will travel instead.”