Thursday’s CHL action

KAC Klagenfurt - HC Fribourg-Gottéron 0-4

Fribourg-Gottéron delivered a dominant performance in Austria, shutting out KAC Klagenfurt 4-0 in a one-sided Champions Hockey League clash. Reto Berra earned the shutout for Fribourg, stopping all 25 shots, while his team capitalized on early momentum and a strong defensive effort.

The Swiss side wasted no time getting on the board, scoring just 1:09 into the game. Marcus Sörensen led a rush into the zone, showing great skill by faking a shot and slipping through the Klagenfurt defence before lifting the puck over Sebastian Dahm to make it 1-0.

Klagenfurt had a brief opportunity to respond during a shorthanded breakaway by Matthew Fraser, but Berra was quick to make the save, denying the hosts a chance to equalize. Fribourg, in turn, kept up the pressure, and within a span of 60 seconds, they scored twice to take firm control of the game. Benoit Jecker pounced on a rebound in the crease to extend the lead at 12:25, and just a minute later, Jacob De la Rose finished a smooth  move off a pass from Christopher DiDomenico, making it 3-0.

In the second period, Fribourg further extended their lead when Jeremi Gerber battled hard for the puck in the corner and found Samuel Walser wide open in front of the net, who slotted home his second of the night at 31:34 to make it 4-0.

Berra’s standout moment came in the third period when he denied Raphael Herberger from point-blank range with a quick left pad save, preserving his shutout. Despite being outshot 25-17, Fribourg-Gottéron maintained their composure and played airtight defense throughout the final frame, ensuring that Klagenfurt couldn’t break through.

Genève-Servette HC - Storhamar Ishockey 4-3 SO

Genève-Servette edged out Storhamar Hamar 4-3 after a dramatic shootout. Both teams showed determination in a closely contested match, with Genève securing the extra point in the shootout, thanks to Michael Špaček's crucial goal.

Storhamar took an early lead in the first period, capitalizing on their second powerplay of the game. At 7:03, Cole Schneider tapped in a rebound after a shot from Sverre Rønningen to give the Norwegian side a 1-0 lead. Despite Genève outshooting Storhamar 14-5 in the opening frame, goalie Markus Røhnebæk Stensrud kept the Swiss team at bay.

The second period saw Storhamar double their lead just two minutes in. Victor Svensson pounced on a loose puck in front of the net, making it 2-0. However, Genève-Servette responded at 29:00 with a powerplay goal by Michael Špaček, who reduced the deficit to 2-1, giving the home side hope heading into the final period.

Genève's momentum carried into the third period. Another powerplay opportunity allowed Špaček to score his second of the night at 48:14, tying the game 2-2. Just three minutes later, Josh Jooris finished a quick breakaway to give Genève a 3-2 lead. But with the clock ticking down, Storhamar pulled their goalie and sent an extra attacker onto the ice. The move paid off, as Samuel Solem found the back of the net at 58:23 to force overtime.

In overtime, both teams had chances but neither could break the deadlock. The game went to a shootout, where Michael Špaček once again proved to be the hero, scoring the decisive goal and completing a memorable night for Genève.

Lausanne HC - Ilves Tampere 7-2

Lausanne HC delivered a dominant performance against Ilves Tampere, cruising to a 7-2 victory in their second Champions Hockey League home game of the season. The Swiss side controlled the game from start to finish, showing efficiency in attack and solidity on defense.

The game opened with both teams feeling each other out, but Lausanne quickly seized control. At 11:05, Ahti Oksanen set up Antti Suomela, who fired a precise shot past Ilves' Jakub Málek to open the scoring. Lausanne continued their pressure, and just a few minutes later, Ken Jäger doubled their lead after a well-timed pass from Gavin Bayreuther. Lausanne outshot Ilves 19-7 in the first period, entering the break with a deserved 2-0 lead.

Ilves responded early in the second period, with captain Eemeli Suomi pulling one back for the Finnish side at 28:19. However, Lausanne’s powerplay unit struck at 33:52, with Suomela scoring his second of the night off a feed from Damien Riat to restore the two-goal lead. Despite some offensive efforts from Ilves, Lausanne held firm, entering the final period with a 3-1 advantage.

The third period saw more action as Eemeli Suomi netted his second goal for Ilves at 46:41, narrowing the score to 3-2. However, just two minutes later, Michael Raffl restored Lausanne's two-goal cushion, capitalizing on a pass from David Sklenička. Ilves pulled their goalie in the final minutes, but Lausanne took full advantage. Michael Hügli scored an empty-net goal at 57:41, followed by Ken Jäger adding a shorthanded empty-netter at 59:04. Antti Suomela completed his hat trick in the dying seconds, scoring Lausanne’s seventh goal to cap a stunning performance.

With a 7-2 victory, Lausanne demonstrated their attacking prowess and composure, securing a vital three points in the CHL. Suomela was the standout, completing his first hat trick of the season, while Kevin Pasche was solid in net, making 31 saves.

Fehervar AV19 - Färjestad Karlstad 1-3

Färjestad Karlstad secured a 3-1 victory over Fehérvár AV19 in a tightly contested Champions Hockey League game. The Swedish side dominated the shot count but had to wait until the third period to break the deadlock and claim their third consecutive CHL win.

The game started with a high tempo, especially from the home side, but both teams struggled to convert early opportunities. Fehérvár created a 3-on-1 chance, only to waste it, while Färjestad returned the favor by failing to capitalize on a 2-on-1 counterattack. The first penalties of the game led to 4-on-4 play, but neither team found the back of the net. Färjestad had the better chances toward the end of the period, but Fehérvár's Dominik Horváth stood tall in goal. The first period ended goalless, with Färjestad outshooting Fehérvár 11-7.

In the second period, Färjestad came out strong, especially in 5-on-5 play, but Horváth continued to deny them. Fehérvár also had their moments, including a near-miss by Balint Magosi, but Färjestad goalie Maxime Lagacé made a stunning cross-crease save to keep the score level. Färjestad dominated possession as Fehérvár tired, but despite outshooting their opponents 17-6 in the second period, they couldn’t break through. The game remained scoreless after 40 minutes.

The third period finally saw the breakthrough. Just 1:29 into the period, Stian Solberg received a perfect pass from Viktor Lodin and fired the puck past Horváth to give Färjestad a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Marcus Westfält doubled the lead after Oskar Steen set him up with a pass from behind the goal. Westfält easily tapped the puck into an open net with the Fehérvár goalie out of position.

Färjestad controlled the game from there and had opportunities to extend their lead, but Fehérvár managed to stay in the contest. With 2:39 left in the game, Christopher Brown scored for Fehérvár, making it 1-2 and giving the home crowd hope for a comeback. However, just 35 seconds later, August Tornberg’s powerful slap shot beat Horváth, restoring Färjestad’s two-goal cushion and sealing a 3-1 victory.

Färjestad's dominance was clear, with a 48-19 shot advantage, and they deservedly took all three points. They will now prepare to face Tappara in Finland for their next CHL match.

SønderjyskE - Pinguins Bremerhaven 0-5

Pinguins Bremerhaven dominated SønderjyskE Vojens with a resounding 5-0 win, exacting revenge after their pre-season loss to the Danish champions. Backed by 700 traveling fans, Bremerhaven put on a commanding performance, with goaltender Maximilian Franzreb earning a shutout by stopping all 16 shots he faced.

The first period was largely controlled by the visitors, with Bremerhaven's high tempo causing difficulties for SønderjyskE. Despite a slow start, Bremerhaven picked up momentum by the seventh minute. Their pressure paid off when Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup’s penalty at 7:29 gave them a powerplay opportunity. Miha Verlič capitalized, scoring at 9:02 to make it 1-0. Another powerplay goal followed shortly after, with Jan Urbas extending the lead to 2-0 at 15:50, assisted by Žiga Jeglič and Verlič. Bremerhaven outshot SønderjyskE 14-5 in the first period, emphasizing their dominance.

In the second period, Bremerhaven continued their control, but SønderjyskE's defense held firm for most of the frame. A penalty on SønderjyskE's Oskar Drugge at 37:26 allowed Bremerhaven another powerplay, and Max Görtz delivered with a powerful shot into the top corner at 37:48, making it 3-0 heading into the final period.

Bremerhaven's offensive power shone once more in the third period. Ross Mauermann scored at 44:48 to increase the lead to 4-0, and just over a minute later, Alex Friesen netted the fifth goal at 46:31, assisted by Fabian Herrmann and Maxim Rausch. Despite some penalty trouble, Bremerhaven maintained control throughout, leaving SønderjyskE with little room to generate offense.

Bremerhaven’s clinical performance, highlighted by three powerplay goals, kept SønderjyskE frustrated and unable to recover. Franzreb's shutout and strong defense from his team ensured Bremerhaven’s comfortable victory. They now look forward to their next Champions Hockey League game against Rouen Dragons at home, riding high on confidence after this decisive win.

HC Ocelari Trinec - Växjö Lakers 1-3

Växjö Lakers secured a crucial 3-1 victory against reigning Czech champions Oceláři Třinec in a tightly contested match, bouncing back from their previous defeat. The game, delayed by an hour due to travel issues for Växjö, saw both teams play a controlled and disciplined style in the opening period, with neither able to break the deadlock.

The action picked up in the second period, with Växjö opening the scoring at 23:40. Hugo Gustafsson intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, setting up Joachim Blichfeld, who fired a quick shot through Marek Mazanec’s legs to give Växjö a 1-0 lead. Třinec responded five minutes later when Justin Addamo found the net at 28:13, leveling the score at 1-1 after sustained pressure and dangerous counterattacks from the home side.

Växjö regained control following their momentary lapse, tightening their defensive play and frustrating Třinec's offensive efforts. Filip Eriksson capitalized on a rebound at 36:09 to restore Växjö's lead, just after a penalty to Martin Lundberg. The Lakers carried this momentum into the third period, where Dennis Rasmussen scored at 44:10, extending the lead to 3-1 by sweeping in a backhand off another rebound in front of Mazanec.

Despite multiple penalties, with both teams accruing 14 minutes in the box in the third period alone, Třinec couldn't break Växjö's composed defense. Växjö held firm under pressure, especially with the Czech side pulling their goalie late in the game, and secured a vital three points. Växjö’s Emil Larmi made 19 saves to ensure the win, while Marek Mazanec stopped 25 of Växjö's 28 shots.

With this victory, Växjö moves closer to advancing in the tournament and looks ahead to their next challenge against Norwegian side Storhamar on Saturday.

Tappara Tampere - Rouen Dragons 6-1

Tappara Tampere secured a commanding 6–1 victory over the Rouen Dragons in their CHL home opener at Hakametsä Arena. The Finnish side dominated from start to finish, with standout performances from Arttu Kärki, who scored twice, and contributions from Kristian Tanus, Oskari Luoto, Juuso Nykänen, and Oiva Keskinen.

Tappara set the tone early, controlling the game with strong offensive pressure. Rouen struggled to escape their defensive zone, leading to careless turnovers. Tappara's persistence paid off at 10:42 when Arttu Kärki scored his first professional goal, with assists from Joni Tuulola and Benjamin Rautiainen. Rouen had a chance to equalize on a power play after Otto Leskinen was penalized for holding, but Tappara's penalty kill proved effective, keeping the Dragons at bay.

The second period saw a flurry of penalties, but Tappara continued to capitalize on Rouen’s mistakes. Kristian Tanus extended Tappara’s lead at 28:39 with a power-play goal, assisted by Daniel Brickley and Veli-Matti Savinainen. Just minutes later, Oskari Luoto made it 3-0 after a lengthy video review confirmed his goal, which had initially been disallowed. Rouen got on the board at 31:49 with a goal from Jared Dmytriw, assisted by Fiorenzo Villard, but that would be their only highlight of the evening.

The final period was all Tappara, as they pulled away with three more goals. Arttu Kärki notched his second of the game just 1:39 into the period, assisted by Petteri Puhakka and Oiva Keskinen. Juuso Nykänen, scoring his first-ever goal for Tappara, made it 5–1 at 58:35 after a sharp pass from Oskari Luoto. Moments later, Oiva Keskinen closed out the scoring at 59:16, converting a pass from Rautiainen.

Goaltender Juha Metsola was solid throughout the game, making 13 saves and helping Tappara secure their first CHL 3-pointer of the season.

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