It's Quarter-Final time in the Champions Hockey League, with three of the four match-ups getting underway tonight!
Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava vs. Fribourg-Gotteron
Ostravar Arena, 17:00
Referees: Peter Gebei (HUN) & Ladislav Smetana (AUT)
The day’s first game sees Vitkovice hosting Fribourg, in a matchup between two teams well short of the top places in their respective leagues. Vitkovice won in Prague on Sunday, and have taken wins in three of their last five Extraliga games. Fribourg on the other hand have lost their last four straight in the NLA, and like their hosts will be glad for the distraction of European competition. Neither side have ever been this far in the CHL.
“Many people told us that we didn’t qualify and we’re only playing because we’re one of the founding teams, but we've shown that we want to be successful in the CHL,” said Vitkovice head coach Jakub Petr. On Fribourg, he said, “They are improving. They’ve got some new faces and are a team full of good players, so it will be very tough. We were outside the top 10 too this season, so I don’t look at the table. Current form will decide it, I think. We’re going to battle hard.”
“In general, teams from Eastern Europe play different than Scandinavian teams,” added Fribourg defenceman and Cramo Top Scorer Yannick Rathgeb. “Pucks are chipped in the zone more often and they forecheck constantly, which means we will have to play hard and physical, but our goal for sure is to win this round and move on to the Semi-Finals.”
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ZSC Lions Zurich vs. Vaxjo Lakers
Hallenstadion, 19:45
Referees: Marian Rohatsch (GER) & Marc Lemelin (AUT)
Surprisingly neither NLA league leaders ZSC Lions nor SHL top-four club Vaxjo have ever been this far in the CHL before. The Lions go into this game having dropped some points lately in their own league, and while losing in regulation is rare they have come unstuck in overtime and shootouts of late, or failed to win in 60 minutes. Both sides are .500 in their last four games, with the Lakers having lost two of their last three games.
“I consider them a very strong side,” affirmed Lions’ head coach Hans Wallson earlier this week. The former Skelleftea bench boss is well familar with Vaxjo from the SHL, where the two teams met in the 2015 league finals.
“We know that we’re going to play against a very good team, perhaps one of the best in Europe, so it’s going to be two really tough games. It’s going to be fun, definitely,” said Vaxjo goaltender Victor Andren. “You have always heard that Swiss teams are really skilled. Maybe not the same structure that we have here in Sweden but really good and skilled players. We expect to play against a very good opponent.”
Frölunda Gothenburg vs. Linkoping HC
Frölundaborgs Isstadion, 20:00
Referees: Maxim Sidorenko (BLR) & Marcus Vinnerborg (SUI)
Defending champions Frolunda have lost the first game in both of their previous Quarter-Final appearances, however both of those were on the road. This time they face fellow SHL opposition in the shape of Linkoping, a team that they’ve lot to on both occasions they’ve played in the Swedish league this season. Linkoping were victorious in Malmo last night and head to Gothenburg on the back of three straight SHL wins.
“Discipline will be a key for us as Linkoping have a very good power play,” commented Indians assistant coach Johan Lundskog. “We know that we are hard to beat when we follow our game plan and will focus on the area close to goal on both sides of the rink.”