Read below for information on the Round of 32 series between the Stavanger Oilers and Eisbaren Berlin. Berlin won 6–3 on aggregate to advance to the Round of 16.

Game 1

Eisbaren Berlin didn't impress a lot of people in the group stage, but played a strong game against the Stavanger Oilers in their home leg in this Round of 32. It began as a goaltending duel beween Berlin's Petri Vehanen and Stavanger's Henrik Holm, with the first goal not coming until late in the second period, when Julian Talbot struck on the power play. They added 2 more goals in the third period, and will now take a 3-goal lead into Game 2 in Norway.

“We started well, but we didn’t create chances.  It was a dangerous game – it wasn't a surprise – Stavanger are a good team,” said Berlin head coach Uwe Krupp. Goal-scorer Talbot added, “Yeah it's huge to get the 3–0 lead, now we have to go there. But it's a good start.”

“I thought we started a bit slow,” said Stavanger coach Petter Thoresen. “Berlin had some good scoring chances in the opening 20 and we were lucky to still be in it. At the end today I don't think we played well enough with the puck to get enough scoring chances. We need to play better 5-on-5 at home to make the next round.”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

One of the major surprises of the 2015–16 Champions Hockey League group stage was the performance of the two Norwegian teams, who both finished as group winners. The Stavanger Oilers, GET-Ligaen champions for a fourth successive season, impressed in 2014, defeating Swiss powerhouse SC Bern. However, this year the Oilers have gone one step further, qualifying for the Round of 32 as Group L winners. Their opponents, Eisbaren Berlin, will be desperate to turn around their CHL form, which saw them qualify on goal difference after winning just one of their four round-robin games. Two tough losses against the highly talented ZSC Lions Zurich was followed up by a surprise defeat to French challengers Gap Rapaces. However, by securing qualification to the playoffs, the Eisbaren have already gone one step further than they did in last season’s CHL, where they finished bottom of Group D.

Closer look: Stavanger Oilers

(2-0-1-1, 7 points, 11:7, 1st in Group L)

The Stavanger Oilers are a team who have taken their impeccable domestic form and brought it to the continental stage. Heavily reliant on Norwegian talent, the Oilers taken the scalps of a number of highly favoured teams in their two seasons in the CHL, this year being no exception. Drawn in a tough group with KalPa Kuopio and Ocelari Trinec, the Oilers began the 2015–16 campaign on home ice, taking a 4–1 victory over Trinec on Game Day 1. Henrik Holm made 35 saves for the win against Trinec, yet struggled in the return leg, as Trinec’s deep offence went to work at the Werk Arena. Josh Soares recovered a point for the Oilers with a last minute goal, but Zbynek Irgl netted the overtime winner for Trinec. The Scandinavian rivalry would ensue, as Stavanger’s final two games were against KalPa Kuopio, and Game Day 4 saw the Finnish side snatch a closely fought 2–1 victory. However, after taking over from Holm after the loss against Trinec, Ruben Smith shone in the all-important return game against KalPa, posting a 17-save shutout as the Oilers outclassed their Finnish opponents, securing their place at the top of Group L.

Josh

Soares

2+2, +1

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Josh Soares scored the first ever CHL goal last year. He finished second to linemate Dan Kissel in team scoring in the regular season and led the Oilers with 15 points in 15 playoff games. A very experienced center equally adept at shooting and passing, his main weapon may be his very quick and surprising wrist shot. Several times last season goalies were left surprised as Soares had gotten a shot away with no warning. So far in the CHL Soares, skating with Kissel and Balcers, has produced 4 (2+2) points in 4 games.

 

Andy

Sertich

0+4, +3

 

Top Defenceman: With newcomer Andy Sertich picking up 4 assists in the four group games he’s been the offensive leader on the back end so far, but his defensive partner Henrik Solberg could also take the title of top defenceman. Solberg, entering his 8th season for the Oilers, is a big, fast defensive defenseman who has added some offensive skills to his repertoire lately almost doubling his point totals in the GET-liga from the previous season.

 

Ruben

Smith

94.59 %

 

Top Goaltender: Ruben Smith has been the number-one goalie the last couple of seasons, but for the Oilers it’s really a situation of a No. 1 and 1A, with Henrik Holm playing 19 games to Smith's 28 last year. Smith got the nod in the playoffs, but the year before Holm won the MVP for the playoffs. Thus far in the CHL they have split duties two games each. Smith took on KalPa with a save percentage of 94.59, while Holm played Trinec with a save percentage of 93.15, both winning a game each.

 

Click here for team statistics.

Closer look: Eisbaren Berlin

(1-0-0-3, 3 points, 12:13, 2nd in Group P)

Objectively, the group stage was not a massive success for Eisbaren Berlin. With only one win in three games, the German side qualified in lieu of their improved goal difference against the Gap Rapaces. However, drawn against one of the top teams in the CHL, ZSC Lions Zurich, wins were always going to be difficult to come by in Group P. In their first game, Berlin mounted a miraculous comeback from 3–0 down against the Lions to tie the game in the third period. However, the Swiss side had enough in the tank to eventually run out 6–3 winners. With a point to prove, the Eisbaren went to task a week later in Game Day 4 against Gap, scoring four times in the opening period to rout the French side 6–1, with Bruno Gervais scoring twice. Die Eisbaren took to the road for Game Days 5 and 6. In Zurich, Berlin took the lead and mounted a brave performance against the Lions, but their ill-discipline cost them, as the home side scored three power-play goals in a 3–2 victory. With Gap needing a nine goal regulation win to advance, qualification was essentially secured before Game Day 6, in which Gap took a 3–1 victory.

Marcel

Noebels

1+3, +1

 

Top Forward: Marcel Noebels came to Berlin in the middle of last season from the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL. Expectations were high, but he has so far been able to succeed. He never gives up on a play, he is a good skater and strong on the puck. During the first game of this year's CHL against Gap he scored a beautiful goal with just one hand on his stick.

Jonas

Mueller

1+4, +3

 

Top Defenceman & CRAMO Top Scorer: 19-year-old Jonas Mueller from Germany was a positive surprise for Berlin last year. Due to injuries he got way more ice-time than expected, and Mueller was able to stand his ground and satisfied everybody with is solid smooth two-way game. With 5 points, he is tied for the CHL lead among defencemen, and is one of the few d-men to wear the Top Scorer jersey.

 

Petri

Vehanen

88.18 %

 

Top Goaltender: This year marks Petri Vehanen's second year in an Eisbaren Berlin jersey. Last year he was one of the best goalies in the DEL. His start of this season has been a little bit slow. A veteran goalie and World Champion who will turn 38 in October, everyone knows that Vehanen is better than what he showed during the group stage, and he will need to be better against Stavanger if his team is to advance. 

 

Click here for team statistics.