Vitkovice – Ingolstadt 5:1 (end) | Třinec – Bern 7:0 (end) | Tappara – Stavanger 7:3 (end)
Kuopio – Sparta 4:5 (2:3 after SO) | Köln – Košice 2:1 (end) | Vienna – Färjestad 4:1 (end)
Krefeld – Skellefteå 1:2 (end) | Curych – Vålerenga 4:1 (end) | Genève – Frölunda 4:3 (end)
Briançon – Villach 1:2 (end) | Zug – SaiPa 1:2 (end) | Liberec – Kärpät 3:4 (end)
SønderjyskE – IFK Helsinki 4:5 (0:2 after SO) | Djurgården – Fribourg 5:4 (after OT) | Växjö – Mannheim 6:1 (end)
final
EV Zug
1:2 (1:1, 0:1, 0:0)
SaiPa Lappeenranta
Thursday 21.08.2014, 19:45 • Bosshard Arena • Champions League
     
    Shots on goal in period 3: EV Zug 11, SaiPa 6 (22:09:00)
     
    SaiPa deserved this win, Zug didn't do enough to create chances. SaiPa was able to capitalise on penalties, surely this was a reason why the Finnish team flies back home with a win in their luggage.
     
    For EV Zug it's youngster Alessio Bertaggia.
     
    For SaiPa it's Dave Spina.
     
    The best players of each team are awarded.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    60:00
    And with this, the game is over. SaiPa wins the first away game 2:1.
     
    59:59
    Home team at full strength.
     
    59:30
    Zug's goalie Stephan out of his goal now.
     
    59:09
    Just a minute to go in the last period.
     
    58:46
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    57:57
    Robin Grossmann from EV Zug is assessed with a penalty for slashing. There's goes the powerplay chance for Zug.
     
    57:30
    Zug with a little more pressure and the one-man advantage but Markkanen secures the puck. Face off in SaiPa's zone.
     
    56:38
    It's Matti Jarvinen for Cross Checking.
     
    56:38
    A delayed penalty against SaiPa will be called.
     
    55:26
    Lino Martschini gets the puck passed Markkanen but it goes past both goal posts.
     
    52:37
    Icing by SaiPa, face off in their own zone.
     
    52:29
    Time for a power break.
     
    52:29
    Schnyders shot from the left side is hard but not precise enough to beat Markkanen.
     
    51:34
    EV Zug trying to establish themselves within SaiPa's zone with little success in this 3rd period so far.
     
    50:56
    Less than 10 minutes left in the 3rd period.
     
    49:42
    Matti Jarvinen with a deflected shot over the glass.
     
    48:46
    Shot from the blue line by Lappalainen but Stephan is ready to catch the puck.
     
    48:38
    SaiPa fans chanting Jussi Markkanen's name, he has had a good game so far.
     
    47:52
    SaiPa has little trouble getting into Zug's zone again and again but no dangerous chances are created by the forwards.
     
    46:33
    The puck will be dropped in Zug's zone.
     
    46:33
    Time for some ice cleaning.
     
    45:31
    Home team at full strength.
     
    44:23
    SaiPa' already in the attacking zone but a shot by Brian Salcido is no test for Stephan.
     
    43:28
    Zug's Robbie Earl takes place on the bench for hooking.
     
    41:01
    Zug's offensive has been a little shy so far, they'll need to create more chances if they want to turn this game in their favour.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    The players are back on the ice, ready for the last period.
     
    Shots in the 2nd period: EV Zug 5, SaiPa 7
     
    The 3rd period will resume in 12 minutes.
     
    Although both teams took some unnecessary penalties SaiPa was able to keep the upper hand and go into the second break with a 1 goal lead.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:38
    SaiPa's McIntyre with a nice breakaway but Stephan keeps the goal clean.
     
    39:37
    Face off in the neutral zone.
     
    38:58
    Just little more than a minute to go in the second period.
     
    38:28
    Home team at full strength.
     
    37:57
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    36:25
    But just seconds later it's Zug Forward Björn Christen with a boarding penalty.
     
    35:53
    SaiPa's top scorer, Ville Koho is assessed with a minor penalty for slashing.
     
    35:11
    Time for another power break.
     
    34:32
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    33:30
    Zug's powerplay squad has difficulties getting into the zone, SaiPa's defense is doing a good job so far.
     
    32:23
    Saipa's Markku Flinck is benched for tripping.
     
    31:05
    David McIntyre gets a chance on a penalty shot but Tobias Stephan gets the puck with his glove. No minor penalty is called.
     
    30:41
    We are midway passed the second period. Zug's Bertaggia with a nice spin around the goal but Markkanen is prepared.
     
    28:19
    The game now goes back and forth, neither team is able to get a clear advantage on the puck.
     
    25:21
    Goal for SaiPa!
    SAMI VENALAINEN scored after smart pass. Just second after the penalty was over. Assisted by: Simon Backman, Markku Flinck.
     
    Home team at full strength.
     
    24:36
    SaiPa now in the attacking zone but Koho's shot goes past the right post.
     
    23:15
    And it's time for Reto Suri for Zug to take place on the bench, a minor penalty for obstruction.
     
    21:24
    Alessio Bertaggia in front of the crease with a shot but can't get it passed the goaltender.
     
    20:20
    Just seconds into the 2nd period and Zug with a nice shot in front of Markkanen.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Players and officials are back on the ice.
     
    Shot statistics in period 1: EV Zug 7, SaiPa 8
     
    The second period will start in 14 minutes.
     
    Both teams with some good chances in the first period with a slight advantage for SaiPa.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:50
    Some rumbling in front of SaiPa's goalie but it's cleared and the puck is thrown in in the neutral zone.
     
    19:22
    Zug with the puck in the offensive zone but no chances so far.
     
    19:00
    Last minute of the period.
     
    17:51
    Next penalty against SaiPa, this time it's Tommi Jokkinen for Hooking.
     
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    16:43
    Zug used the two man advantage and is back in the game.
     
    15:26
    Goal for Zug!
    ROBBIE EARL with a huge snapshot gets the equalizer for Zug! Assisted by: Daniel Sondell.
     
    15:11
    Next penalty against SaiPa's Kalle Maalahti for Slashing.
     
    15:08
    Daniel Sondell with a shot from the blue line but no problem for Markkanen.
     
    15:00
    Zug's powerplay formation on the ice now.
     
    14:35
    Dave Spina for SaiPa is the next to take place on the bench, a minor penalty for Tripping.
     
    13:37
    SaiPa now has better control of the puck and is able to get into the offensive zone easier while creating some good chances.
     
    11:42
    Goal for SaiPa!
    With a nice shot from the right side scored DAVE McINTYRE. Assisted by: Sam Lofquist, Dave Spina.
     
    10:03
    Björn Christen from Zug is the first player who gets penalised for Tripping.
     
    09:10
    Fabrice Herzog with a hard shot just in front of the crease but Markkanen gets the puck with his shoulder.
     
    08:16
    Zug with some trouble in their own zone now but SaiPa can't capitalise on their chances.
     
    06:45
    Zug's top scorer Reto Suri gets a chance and tests Markkanen but no goal.
     
    06:15
    Face off in Zug's zone.
     
    Time for a power break.
     
    06:05
    Mankinen with a slap shot from from the right side but it's deflected by Stephan.
     
    04:42
    It's Spina again with a shot from the blue line, no problem for Stephan.
     
    03:30
    SaiPa's No. 12, Dave Spina with a nice shot but Stephan is on the right spot.
     
    03:01
    Zug's fourth line with some good chances but Markkanen isn't challenged yet.
     
    01:22
    Zug with a slightly better start but no chances for far.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Zug is playing in the blue jerseys while SaiPa wears yellow. The players now line up at their blue lines.
     
    Top scorers for each team are: Reto Suri for Zug and Ville Koho for SaiPa.
     
    The game will start in few minutes, there are no suprises in the line-ups. It will mark the return of SaiPa goalie Jussi Markkanen who spent last season with EV Zug.
     
    Good evening from the Bosshard Arena in Zug where more and more fans are finding their seats. Even a small group of SaiPa fans made the trip to Zug today!
     
    Starting lineups:

    EV Zug: Stephan (Hauser) – Sondell, Andersson – Suri (A), Holden (A), Martschini – Ramholt, Grossmann – Lammer, Earl, Bürgler – Lüthi, Alatalo – Sutter, Bertaggia, Herzog – Blaser, Erni – Diem, Christen, Schnyder (C)

    SaiPa Lappeenranta: Markkanen (Bernard) – Larsson, Salcido – Koho (C), Mankinen (A), Tavi – Ahonen, Lappalainen – McIntyre, Spina, Jokinen – Lofquist, Backman (A) – Venalainen, Flinck, Pitkanen – Maalahti, Leivo – Toivanen, Jarvinen, Kuronen

    Referees: M. Nord (SWE), M. Vinnerborg (SUI) – P. Kung (SUI), R. Burgi (SUI).
     
    The wait has finally come to an end as the second edition of the Champions Hockey League is ignited this evening.

    EV Zug is coming of a poor season, not reaching the playoffs in 2014. During the summer break, management has turned the team upside-down, making many transfers. Three pre-season wins prove that, at least for now, the changes have been successful.

    SaiPa Lappeenranta, on the other hand, lost their 3 games prior to today after finishing last season in 3rd place. The Finnish club has been active on the transfer market too, hoping to improve things on the defensive end but also bringing some power to the offence.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:45 CET, 20:45 EET.
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Andreas Reiner

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 16. Earl (Sondell) – 12. McIntyre (Lofquiest, Spina), 26. Venalainen (Backman, Flinck)

    EV Zug: Stephan (Hauser) – Sondell, Andersson – Suri (A), Holden (A), Martschini – Ramholt, Grossmann – Lammer, Earl, Bürgler – Lüthi, Alatalo – Sutter, Bertaggia, Herzog – Blaser, Erni – Diem, Christen, Schnyder (C)
    SaiPa Lappeenranta: Markkanen (Bernard) – Larsson, Salcido – Koho (C), Mankinen (A), Tavi – Ahonen, Lappalainen – McIntyre, Spina, Jokinen – Lofquist, Backman (A) – Venalainen, Flinck, Pitkanen – Maalahti, Leivo – Toivanen, Jarvinen, Kuronen
    Referees: M. Nord (SWE), M. Vinnerborg (SUI) – P. Kung (SUI), R. Burgi (SUI)
    Attendance: 2818