Welcome. Game starts at 19:45.

After all the hype of Matthews playing in his first CHL game, ZSC left Prague with a one-goal deficit to turn round on home ice. In the first game in this year’s CHL to be played in the Hallenstadion, Marc Crawford says his team are prepared. “We will be ready,” said the ZSC Head Coach. “We need to play a strong physical game especially when we don't have the puck. Our players understand the situation and our competitiveness will need to be at a very high level.”

For Sparta they may have a lead to defend, but one goal in hockey is never a safety net. “We expect them to start hard on us. It’s true we have a one goal advantage, but we can’t rely on that. We have to play well in defence,” said Miroslav Forman. “We struggled with that lately, so it will be important for us. I believe we will score some goals.”

Starting lineups:

ZSC Lions Zurich: Leimbacher (Schlegel) – Geering, Bergeron – Foucault, Schäppi, Wick – Blindenbacher (A), Siegenthaler – Keller, Matthews, Herzog – Seger (C), Soervik – Suter, Trachsler, Küenzle – Ph. Baltisberger – Nilsson (CTS), Cunti, Neuenschwander, Bärtschi

Sparta Prague: Tomas Pöpperle (Lukas) – Barinka (A), Cajkovsky – Pech, Kustat, Sabolic – Polasek, Piskacek – Hlinka (C), Klimek, Forman – Eminger, Mikus – Buchtele, Netik (A), Pribyl – Hrbas, Glenn – Cingel, Reway (CTS), Kudrna

Referees: Haupt (GER), Massy – Wüst, Progin (All SUI).

Good evening everyone, were just about 25 minutes away from the puck drop. The home team has dressed 3 complete lines while Sparta has taken along 4 complete lines.

Sparta Prague won the first leg 3:2 but can't rely on this one goal lead. The Lions will try and come out strong, get into the game fast.

Many eyes will once again focus on Auston Matthews of the ZSC Lions who once again scored in a 3:1 win over EV Zug on Saturday.

Sparta on the other hand arrived in Zurich taking along a loss against HC Kometa this past weekend. We'll see if this will have a mental influence on either team.

We're just 3 minutes away from puck drop.

Sparta Prague in white enter the ice!

The home team are wearing their red sweaters tonight as both teams line up at the blue line.

Here we go, the home team gets the first puck possession of the game.

Matthews with a first chance but the shot is deflected of Pöpperle's pads.

And it's as expected, the home team is coming out burning. The Lions have had a good chunk of the starting minutes while Prague struggle to get out of their zone.

Sparta is unable to set up the powerplay formation and the Lions return to full strength.

Sparta getting into the game slowly, young Martin Reway had a first chance but goalie Leimbacher had no trouble blocking the shot.

The Lions are able to play the puck but can't create shots. This chance has passed.

For a second, Jonas Siegenthaler forgot Netik and he scores the first goal of the game.

Sparta lead 4:2 on aggregate, this means the Lions have to win with at least 2 goals to force an overtime.

Sparta now are better organised and give the Lions little space to pass the puck in the offensive zone.

And the Czechs are back at full strength again.

Great save by Leimbacher who had to stretch his left leg far out to get that puck.

There's less than 2 minutes left in the first period and the Lions now are under pressure to score their first goal of the game.

Matthias Seger finally gets a shot on Pöpperle from the left face-off corner but no problem for the Czech goalie.

The Lions are trying to take control of the game once more but Pöpperle has no trouble to keep his goal clean.

Sparta with a first chance just 19 seconds into the powerplay but Leimbacher blocks it with his glove.

Künzle returns to the ice.

Jaroslav Hlinka's high sticking is called off and we have a power break.

Fabrice Herzog with a great chance but he misses the goal.

Sparta is back with 5 field players as we approach the next power break.

Matthews with a nice solo. He creates a chance in a backwards motion but Pöpperle is ready to block the shot.

Less than 2 minutes to go. This has just become a very hard task for the home team.

And Sparta is back at full strength. That's 6 minor penalties against Prague and the Lions haven't capitalised on a single chance.

3 chances on the powerplay but still no goal for the home team.

Herzog with multiple chances in front of Pöpperle but again the goalie wins the duel.

Sparta now with a solid defense, they don't necessarily need to attack but can wait for turn over chances.

Again it's Fabrice Herzog who gets the puck on a break away but can't capitalise in the end.

The Lions replace goalie Urban Leimbacher. Niklas Schlegel will replace him for the final 10 minutes.

With less than 8 minutes to go it's almost safe to say that Sparta will advance to the round of the best 16 teams.

Roman Wick returns to the ice.

This must be disappointing for the Lions who surely expected more out of this rematch.

Lukas Klimek with a chance coming from the right face off circle but Schlegel burries the puck.

Two more minutes left. The Sparta fans have been chanting and going for it the whole game, half naked at times!