In their last outings before heading back into Champions Hockey League action, how did the remaining 16 teams get on this past weekend? We take a look at their form heading into Tuesday's first legs!
Starting in Germany, where Eisbaren Berlin went down to lowly Straubing on Friday, before a narrow 1-0 win at home to Schwenningen two days later to get back to winning ways. Down in Switzerland, ZSC Lions Zurich ended a run of two straight losses with a penalty shootout victory over local rivals Kloten Flyers, keeping them top of the NLA. SC Bern have moved up to second thanks to five straight wins, while Lugano sit seventh after two losses – including a 5-0 hammering in Geneve-Servette two nights ago. Fribourg-Gotteron are only a place off last after two losses on the spin, going down in Davos last time out.
In the Czech Republic, Bili Tygri Liberec were the only remaining CHL team to win Sunday night, overcoming Dynamo Pardubice 4-2 to stay in the top four to record their fifth win in as many games. Two losses in their last outings have seen Sparta Prague drop to seventh, while Vitkovice Ostrava cling on to the top 10 having lost last night – two wins in the last three.
In the SHL, a loss in Karlskrona Thursday night saw Frolunda Gothenburg drop to second, although their win in Skelleftea means they've only lost one in six as they head into the CHL. HV71 Jonkoping are in the top five, winning their last game but having been on a win/loss sequence for a few games. Three wins in a row have the Vaxjo Lakers two points outside the top six, while a win in Lulea saw Linkoping HC climb into the top 10.
Finally in Finland, KalPa Kuopio continue to try and hunt down leaders Tappara Tampere, two wins in their last pair of games, cutting the gap to four points. IFK Helsinki's three-game winning streak came to an end in Tampere two nights ago, but they stay just in the top six. JYP Jyvaskyla are now inside the top 10 thanks to two straight wins, while SaiPa Lappeenranta's win in Turku in a shootout was their first win in three.