The starting position for the final two rounds: Will Geneva, Biel and the Lakers make the CHL playoffs?

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For champion Geneva and number two Biel, things are anything but smooth in the National League. Is the Champions Hockey League coming at just the right time? Or would you rather stand in the way because you would rather gain a foothold in the championship? The fact is: both teams still need points to reach the play-offs of the Top 16.

Servette is dueling with the two clubs Pardubice (Tsch) and Lukko Rauma (Fi), who have the same points. With two defeats, the Romans could still be intercepted in the worst case. A win would at least be helpful. “Our main goal is to be successful in the National League,” says Geneva’s Finn Valtteri Filppula on the CHL homepage, “but wherever we play, our goal is to always do our best. We also want to do well in the CHL.”

Decimated Bielers

The Bielers will face Vitkovice (Tsch), who has the same number of points, as the Finnish champion Tappara Tampere (with ex-ZSC coach Grönborg on the board). At least for Wednesday’s match in the Czech Republic, the Zeelanders have been severely decimated: in addition to the long-term injured Lööv, Heponiemi, Künzle and Hofer, other top players are missing, together with Cunti, Hischier and Yakovenko. To stay in the Top16, Biel probably only needs one win.

Unless the Lakers tie Tappara Tampere back a bit today. In addition to the Finnish champions, the Växjö Lakers, the Swedish champions are also waiting for the SCRJ. In 16th place, Rappi-Jona is in danger of slipping below the finish line. Because Salzburg (Austria), the most ambitious pursuer, would normally have to score at least points against Belfast (Irl).

New format

Since this season, the Champions Hockey League has been played in a new format, with only 24 teams competing against each other. There is no more group stage. Each team now plays against six different opponents instead of three as before. The top 16 teams advance to the play-offs.

In the event of a draw, the number of wins after regular playing time counts first, followed by more wins, the better goal difference and the number of goals scored. The Växjö Lakers and Ilves Tampere (Fi) have already qualified for the play-offs.

The table:

1. Växjö Lakers, 4 games/11 points
2. Ilves Tampere, 4/11
3. Red Bull Munich, 4/10
4. Adler Mannheim, 4/10
5. Farjestad Karlstad, 4/9
6. Napkin, 4/9
7. Dynamo Pardubice, 4/9
8. Lukko Rauma, 4/9
9. ERC Ingolstadt, 4/9
10. Tappara Tampere, 4/7
11. Skelleftea AIK, 4/6
12. Lahti pelicans, 4/6
13. Biel, 4/6
14. HC Innsbruck, 4/6
15. Vitkovice Ridera, 4/6
16. SCRJ Lakers, 4/5
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17. Ocelari Trinec, 4/4
18. Red Bull Salzburg, 4/3
19. Belfast Giants, 4/3
20. Rouen Dragons, 4/3
21. Stavanger Oilers, 1/4
22. Aalborg Pirates, 4/1
23. HC Kosice, 4/0
24. HC Bozen, 4/0

Source : Blick