Twelve more teams enters CHL

Färjestad BK defeated Lahti Pelicans 5-0 in their CHL opener, with Maxime Lagacé earning a shutout. Färjestad dominated the second period with five goals. In other matches, Oceláři Třinec won 2-1 in overtime against Lausanne HC, Pinguins Bremerhaven rallied to beat Genève-Servette 3-2, Straubing Tigers shut out SønderjyskE 3-0, and KAC Klagenfurt secured a 4-2 win over Rouen Dragons. Skellefteå AIK edged out Red Bull Salzburg 4-3 with Andreas Johnson scoring the decisive goal.

Lahti Pelicans - Färjestad BK 0-5

Färjestad Karlstad secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Lahti Pelicans in their opening game of the 2024/25 Champions Hockey League at Isku Areena. The Swedes dominated the second period with five unanswered goals, while goaltender Maxime Lagacé recorded a shutout, stopping all 13 shots he faced.

The first period began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out. The Pelicans, supported by 1,413 home fans, played an intense, fast-paced game, but struggled to convert their chances. Färjestad’s defense remained solid, even after a penalty to August Tornberg for holding. Lahti had a brief momentum shift, but couldn't capitalize, leaving the score 0-0 after 20 minutes. Färjestad held a minor advantage with seven shots on goal to Lahti's three.

The game’s tone shifted dramatically in the second period. Just 33 seconds in, Färjestad’s Lucas Forsell broke the deadlock by scoring on his own rebound, following a strong forecheck by Marian Studenič. Forsell’s early strike set the tone for Färjestad’s dominant period, and just two and a half minutes later, veteran forward Per Åslund made it 2-0, tipping a puck past Lahti’s goalie, Jasper Patrikainen, after a scramble in front.

Lahti’s troubles worsened when Jonas Enlund was penalized twice in quick succession, giving Färjestad a long 5-on-3 power play. The Swedes took full advantage. First, team captain Magnus Nygren unleashed a powerful slap shot from the blue line that beat Patrikainen through a screen for a 3-0 lead. Shortly after, Michael Lindqvist added a fourth with a one-timer, following crisp passing from Nygren and Viktor Lodin.

The Pelicans, reeling from the quick succession of goals, couldn’t recover before Färjestad scored their fifth. Marcus Westfält deflected a point shot by Stian Solberg into the net at 34:35, silencing the home crowd and putting the game out of reach.

The third period saw no changes to the scoreboard, as Färjestad smartly managed their five-goal cushion. They controlled possession and tightened their defense, limiting Lahti’s scoring opportunities. The Pelicans, despite a valiant effort, failed to create any significant offensive chances in the final 20 minutes, taking only four shots on goal. A late power play gave them a brief glimmer of hope, but Lagacé stood firm, preserving his shutout.

Färjestad’s disciplined, structured play was on full display throughout, and the game was effectively decided in the second period, where they overwhelmed Lahti in all aspects. The Swedish side not only outshot their opponents 25-13 but capitalized on special teams, scoring twice on the power play, while keeping the Pelicans’ man advantage at bay.

Lausanne HC - Oceláři Třinec 1-2 OT

In a hard-fought game, Oceláři Třinec edged Lausanne HC 2-1 in overtime at the Vaudoise Aréna. Both teams, eager to kick off their CHL campaigns with a win, played a close and tactical match, thrilling the crowd of 4,071 spectators.

The game started with a cautious first period, as both teams focused heavily on defense. Lausanne managed to create some pressure early on, with Kevin Pasche in goal standing strong for the Swiss side. On the other end, Třinec’s goaltender Marek Mazanec faced a few dangerous attempts but held his ground. Despite penalties on both sides, neither team could find the back of the net, and the first period ended scoreless.

The intensity picked up in the second period as Lausanne ramped up the pressure. Třinec’s defense and Mazanec were tested multiple times, particularly during Lausanne’s powerplays. The breakthrough came late in the second period when Théo Rochette scored on the powerplay, giving Lausanne a 1-0 lead after sustained pressure. Assisted by Antti Suomela and Ken Jäger, Rochette found the gap between Mazanec's pads, sending the home fans into a frenzy just before the end of the period.

However, Třinec responded quickly in the third period. Just two minutes into the final frame, Libor Hudáček finished off a slick pass from Marko Daňo, tying the game at 1-1. Both teams then traded chances, but the goalies stood tall. A penalty against Lausanne’s Tim Bozon late in the third gave Třinec a chance to win it in regulation, but they couldn’t capitalize, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Třinec wasted no time. Just 44 seconds in, Daniel Kurovský tipped in a shot from Daňo, securing a 2-1 victory for the Czech team. Lausanne outshot Třinec 39-19, but Mazanec’s stellar performance in goal, with 38 saves, proved to be the difference.

Pinguins Bremerhaven - Genève-Servette 3-2

In a thrilling game at the Eisarena Bremerhaven, the Pinguins Bremerhaven edged Genève-Servette 3-2 after an intense comeback in the final period. The Swiss team took an early 2-0 lead in the first period, with Tanner Richard opening the scoring just 1:45 into the game, followed by Simon Le Coultre adding another at 7:10. The Pinguins responded late in the first with Dominik Uher scoring to close the gap to 2-1.

The second period saw no goals, despite both teams creating chances. Pinguins’ goalkeeper Maximilian Franzreb was instrumental, keeping his team in the game with several crucial saves. In the final period, Bremerhaven came out strong, with Matthew Abt equalizing just 32 seconds in with a powerful shot from the blue line. Less than two minutes later, Žiga Jeglič deflected a pass from Jan Urbas to give Bremerhaven a 3-2 lead, which they held onto despite Genève-Servette pulling their goalie in the final minutes.

Maximilian Franzreb’s outstanding 28 saves helped seal the victory for Bremerhaven, while Genève’s Robert Mayer stopped 22 shots. This dramatic comeback win delighted the home crowd of 4,299 fans, marking a perfect start to the Champions Hockey League campaign for the Pinguins.

Straubing Tigers - SønderjyskE 3-0

Straubing Tigers hosted SønderjyskE Vojens at the Eisstadion am Pulverturm for the opening game of the Champions Hockey League season. The Tigers emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 win.

The match began with both teams creating early chances. In the 6th minute, the Tigers capitalized on a power play after Jacob Panetta was penalized for slashing. Joshua Samanski scored the season’s first goal, shooting past Pettersson into the top corner. This goal gave the Tigers a boost, and they controlled the play for the remainder of the period. SønderjyskE had some chances late in the period through Peter Truelsen, Rasmus Lyø, and Pelletier, but McIntyre’s strong play kept them from scoring. Justin Scott had a good opportunity for the Tigers, but his shot was off target, leaving the score 1-0 at the first intermission.

The second period saw the Tigers start with a man advantage after Skyler McKenzie was sent to the penalty box for roughing. Although the Tigers couldn’t capitalize immediately, they extended their lead in the 28th minute when Cole Fonstad scored, assisted by Philip Samuelsson and Justin Scott. SønderjyskE had a few chances, including a shot by Mathias Borring Hansen that went over the net, and a late power play opportunity where Alexander Wiklund hit the post. The Tigers maintained their 2-0 lead heading into the final period.

In the third period, Brandt’s shot was saved by Pettersson, and a two-on-one break for Samanski and Mike Connolly was thwarted by the Swedish goalie. The Tigers finally sealed their victory with a power play goal by Marcel Brandt in the 45th minute, assisted by Taylor Leier and Travis St. Denis. Despite SønderjyskE's attempts to respond, including good chances for Wiklund and Borring Hansen, McIntyre stood firm. Søren Dietz-Larsen tried a powerful shot in the dying seconds, but it was blocked by McIntyre, who was impeccable throughout the game. The final whistle blew with the Tigers securing a 3-0 win.

The Tigers' defense and goaltending were exceptional, with Zane McIntyre recording a shutout with 21 saves. Pettersson also had a strong performance with 34 saves, but it was not enough to overcome the Tigers’ effective power play and disciplined play.

Rouen Dragons - KAC Klagenfurt 2-4

KAC Klagenfurt secured a 4-2 victory over the Rouen Dragons in their opening game of the Champions Hockey League season.

In the first period, KAC Klagenfurt quickly asserted their dominance with Matthew Fraser scoring the opening goal at 3:33, assisted by Thomas Hundertpfund. KAC's David Maier and the Dragons Anthony Rech were penalized for fighting at 8:10. Nicholas Petersen extended KAC's lead to 2-0 at 10:16, with another assist from Hundertpfund.

The second period saw more back-and-forth action. Rouen's Daniel Glad was penalized for hooking at 24:34, giving KAC a power play opportunity which Senna Peeters capitalized on at 26:01, making it 3-0. Rouen responded with a goal of their own as Jared Dmytriw scored at 26:54, narrowing the gap to 3-1. KAC quickly restored their three-goal lead with Johannes Bischofberger scoring at 27:06. Both teams had additional chances, but the score remained 4-1 at the end of the period.

In the final period, Rouen Dragons managed to score another goal with Tomas Simonsen finding the back of the net at 43:55, assisted by Robin Colomban, making it 4-2. The Dragons pushed hard to close the gap, but KAC’s defense held firm. Rouen’s goalie, Oskari Setänen, was pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute, but the Dragons could not break through KAC’s defense again.

KAC Klagenfurt’s Sebastian Dahm had a solid performance in goal, making 21 saves on 23 shots. Rouen’s Oskari Setänen faced 33 shots, saving 29.

Red Bull Salzburg - Skellefteå AIK 3-4

Skellefteå AIK edged out Red Bull Salzburg 4-3 in a dramatic finish at Eisarena Salzburg. The game started with a setback for Skellefteå as Jonathan Johnson was injured early on, hit by a slapshot and had to leave the ice for medical attention.

Despite the rough start, Skellefteå took the lead at 7:30 of the first period with a goal from Zeb Forsfjäll, assisted by Oskar Nilsson and Lukas Vesterlund. Skellefteå controlled the first period, outshooting Salzburg 11-3, but only led 1-0 as Red Bull Salzburg's goalkeeper, Atte Tolvanen, made several key saves.

The second period saw both teams scoring twice on the power play. Salzburg's Peter Schneider equalized with a powerful one-timer, but Skellefteå quickly regained the lead with goals from Oskar Nilsson and Andreas Johnson. Thomas Raffl later scored for Salzburg, keeping the game close as the teams headed into the third period with Skellefteå leading 3-2.

Salzburg's Lucas Thaler tied the game early in the third period, but Johnson proved to be the hero, scoring the decisive goal with less than three minutes remaining. Despite Salzburg's efforts to equalize, Skellefteå's goalkeeper, Gustaf Lindvall, made crucial saves to secure the victory for the Swedes.

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