Read below for information about the Round of 32 series between HV71 Jonkoping and Lukko Rauma. HV71 won 6-3 to advance to the Round of 16.
Preview
This Round of 32 match-up features two teams that had rather different group stage experiences. HV71 got off to a strong start and locked up their group without much problem, while Lukko started slow and advanced despite only winning one game. This also features the high-flying offence of HV71 – who scored 5 goals in each of their three wins and have three players with at least 5 points – and the normally stingy defence of Lukko, who are traditionally low in star power but high in team play. Also, it's never boring when Swedish and Finnish teams face each other.
Of note, despite being a group winner, HV71 will host the first game in Jonkoping due to an arena conflict the following week. The second leg will be played in Rauma.
Closer look: HV71 Jonkoping
(3-0-0-1, 9 points, 16:9, 1st in Group P)
For the second year in a row, HV71 topped their group, which included Red Bull Salzburg – a team that they were grouped with for the third year in a row – and the Sheffield Steelers. After winning their first three games, they lost the last one to Salzburg. However, that was good enough to finish on top. As is usually the case, things will start getting more difficult now, as they face a team that has twice gone deep into the CHL playoffs the last two years.
Martin
Thornberg
4+4, +1
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Martin Thornberg leads the CHL in points after the group stage with 8 and has been the best player overall for HV71 so far this season. He scored only 13 SHL goals last season including the playoffs, but this season has started very well. Recently he has played together with Ted Brithen, and time will tell if HV71 have themselves a dynamic duo in these two players.
Dylan
Reese
1+3, +3
Top Defenceman: It's hard to pick a top defencemen for HV71 this season, but Dylan Reese has 4 points in the tournament so far. Dylan joined HV71 this year playing last season for the AHL's Springfield Falcons. Has adjusted to the bigger ice surprisingly quickly and is useful both on offence and defence. He is used on the power play as a point man.
Fredrik
Pettersson-Wenzel
88.89%
Top Goaltender: Both Linus Soderstrom and Fredrik Pettersson-Wenzel have played quite well so far. But in the CHL playoffs, coach Johan Lindbom most likely will play Pettersson-Wenzel, who is more experienced in important games like this. Fredrik has to step up a level, as his save percentage so far is a little too low for a goalie as good as him.
Closer look: Lukko Rauma
(1-0-1-2, 4 points, 9:9, 2nd in Group D)
Lukko Rauma finished as runners-up in Group D behind ZSC Lions Zurich, the Swiss team that beat them twice. After that slow start, a big 6-1 win in Ingolstadt secured their place in the next round, before losing to Ingolstadt at home. Despite their less-than-stellar showing in the group stage, this is a team that has gone to the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals the last two CHL seasons, so confidence shouldn't be a problem.
Aaron
Gagnon
1+2, +2
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Starting his fourth season in Finland, the Canadian-born playmaker has been adopted as a fan favourite among Lukko fans. What Aaron Gagnon lacks in height (178 cm) he makes up with great puck-control and anticipation. He plays centre in Rauma but can handle the winger's role if needed. Gagnon was Lukko's top scorer in the Finnish league regular season in 2015-16. He is said to be one of the all-time best import players in Lukko.
Janne
Niskala
2+0, +3
Top Defenceman: Janne Niskala’s eminent shot is definitely his top trademark. 16 years of professional hockey have turned this newly announced team captain into a true cornerstone in the defensive end. He skates well, passes often and accurately and shoots well. Niskala has played in all of the five top-ranked hockey leagues in the world: NHL (Tampa Bay Lightning), KHL (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, HK Atlant, Atlant Mytishchi), SHL (Farjestad, Frolunda), NLA (EV Zug) and Liiga (Lukko).
Kaapo
Kahkonen
94.59 %
Top Goaltender: Kaapo Kahkonen was on his way to becoming an elite goalie in Finnish hockey at an early age on as he got selected as 2nd-tier league Mestis's best goaltender and rookie of the year in the 2014-15 season — then he became a national hero overnight by carrying the Finnish U20 team to World Junior Championship in January 2016. He was drafted in 2014 by the Minnesota Wild, but hasn’t had his chance in the NHL yet. 20-year-old Kähkönen is only the second-youngest goalie in Lukko: the team’s third-string goalie after Kahkonen and Antti Karjalainen (born 1995) is Lassi Lehtinen, age 17.