It’s the ‘End of the group stage: Part 1’ tonight in the Champions Hockey League, as sever clubs play what will be also their last games in this season’s competition. For Braehead and Sheffield there is extra spice on their games though – as following Grenoble’s win last year, the EIHL is the only league represented in the tournament this year yet to register a point.

Staff writers

Skelleftea AIK vs. Bili Tygri Liberec

Group D; Skelleftea Kraft Arena, 15:00

A game for top spot in Skelleftea, although the odds are stacked in favour of the hosts who only need to get the game to overtime to secure wining the group. 

“We have put ourselves in a great position already, but when the refs drop the puck tomorrow we'll have to be sharp from the start,” says Skelleftea assistant coach, Bert Robertsson. “We'll face a skilled and experienced team, that play with high intensity and a solid defence. But I think we'll have a good chance to get another win.”

“It was our priority to advance and I’m glad we managed to fulfill this goal,” commented Liberec forward Martin Bako before the game. “We prepared for it as much as we do for our Czech league. We take this seriously and we want to succeed.”

Sparta Prague vs. Geneve-Servette

O2 Arena Prague; Group M, 15:30

Two big names in European hockey go head-to-head in the Czech capital this afternoon knowing that one of them will bow out of the CHL for this season. Luckily the arithmetic here is simple – Geneva need to win in regulation, and Sparta require just a point, to make the next round.

On the game, Sparta defenceman Juraj Mikus had this to say: “It would be better if we had clinched the playoff spot already against Storhamar at home. The game in Geneva was tight so I our the chances around 50 percent. We’ll do everything we can to advance.” 

Ocelari Trinec vs. Kalpa Kuopio

Group L; Werk Arena, 18:00

A regulation win for either team in this game will put them through, and knock their opponents out. KalPa can also take this game to overtime and qualify with a point, although they would then finish as runners up only even with an OT win. 

“We have to focus so we don’t concede any last-minute goals,” says Trinec defenceman Rostislav Klesla. “Now we have to beat the Finns at home to get through.”

KalPa asistant coach Tommi Miettinen knows that tonight's game really is a big game for his team, telling us, “The stakes in last game in our group are high. Ocelari are a very experienced and a very skilled high-level professional team. We have to be patient and stick in our own system are key things to us in that game.”

Karpat Oulu vs. Vienna Capitals

Group J; Oulun Energia-Areena, 18:30

After a great in win Krefeld, Vienna are now also guaranteed a place in the next round and travel to Finland for their final game. However, the result of tonight’s match will not change the group standings at all. “We can try a few different things in the defensive and neutral zones in this game, but for sure we'll be taking it 100 percent seriously,” says Capitals coach Jim Boni. 

Red Bull Salzburg vs. HV71 Jonkoping

Eisarena Salzburg; Group C, 19:30

Group C also throws up another game where neither side can change the final standings, as HV71 have won the group and Salzburg will finish runners up. However for the home team it’s a chance to end the group stage with a win, after last season’s heroics they have only registered three points so far this season.

Adler Mannheim vs. Vitkovice Ostrava

Group I; SAP Arena, 19:30

Following their win last night, Vitkovice head to Mannheim safe in the knowledge that they'll play n the play-off stage of the CHL. Whoever emerges as victorious from tonight's game wins the group, it's as simple as that. 

“We’re glad that we've secured a playoff spot already," says Vitkovice forward Petr Strapac. “Now we want to play for first place in group, so we can have a better position. It would be interesting If we get someone from Sweden in the next round.”

SC Bern vs. Linkoping HC

Group A; Postfinance Arena, 19:45

With Linkoping already through, Bern are in control of their own fate as they host the SHL team. Also watching on with interest will be IFK Helsinki, who will be eliminated if Bern can get two points from the game. IFK have the better goal difference against Bern, meaning that the Swiss club needs to win the game one way or another.

We have seen the high level of the competition in the first three games. We have also seen that we’re capable of beating Linkoping in the last game, and that’s what we want again,” says Cory Conacher, Bern’s new Canadian forward. “We want to stay in the competition and show Europe how good Swiss sides are. We’ll need a good start in the game.”

HC Davos vs. Dynamo Pardubice

Group E; Vaillant Arena, 19:45

Davos are through and have won the group, while Pardubice have only pride to play for in their CHL swan-song for this year. “We have to think positively for the next game. Nobody will give up in Davos,” commented Pardubice’s Tomas Marcinko. “We have to win the game so we can bounce from that into the start of our regular season. I know we are well-prepared and I believe we can prove it and win.”

Sheffield Steelers vs. Frolunda Gothenburg

Group N; Motorpoint Arena, 20:00

“It will be a tough game that we want to win,” says Frolunda's Johan Sundstrom. “We play for a good result as every point and goal is crucial, but we do not expect the Sheffield fans to support us.” Frolunda head to the Steel City already guaranteed of qualification and top spot in the group. For Sheffield, they bow out of this season’s CHL at home and also go in search of their first points in the competition.

“If you look at the nine periods of hockey we’ve played in the Champions League, we’ve had one bad period – and that was because we had nothing left,” says Steelers' coach Paul Thompson. I think this time we'll compete for 60 minutes this time because our conditioning is probably 30 percent or so higher than when we played in Gothenburg. Whenever you put on a Steelers’ shirt you want to win – we want to be the underdog and pull a win against a fabulous Frolunda side.”

Braehead Clan vs. ERC Ingolstadt

Group O; Braehead Arena, 20:00

Braehead also bow out of the CHL tonight with so far no points to their name despite some very encouraging performances, and Nathan McIver says the incentive remains for he and his team-mates to go out and claim the win to end the European adventure on a high.

He said, “Despite the fact our tournament ends after Ingolstadt come here on Saturday, it doesn’t detract from the fact we want to win the game. Our fans have been great so it’s only right we go in with that kind of mentality and we’ll do everything in our power to try and achieve that. Ingolstadt are a good team and they did well last season.  We know we’ll have our hands full, but we’ll play our hardest and see what comes out of it.”

“We alway want to win our games. We are very fortunate going to the second round, says Ingolstadt head coach Emanuel Viveiros. “But we alway want to finish as high as possible. Winning the game tomorrow, gives us the possibility to get an easier draw for the next round.”