And whenever a spot is open Liberec still has Schwarz and his glove. He catches another shot by Krupp after a nice pass from behind the net by Marcel Müller.

Just under five minutes left in this Group A matchup and it does't look like Köln has any more ideas to turn it around. Liberec plays very smart with the three-goal-lead on their hands.

Liberec is back at full strength.

Köln is still trying to get another goal, but Liberec plays a good defensive game and keeps the front of their net pretty much clear.

Haie fans won't give up on their team and cheer them on but it really doesn't look good for Köln. Liberec is playing with all the confidence.

Gogulla one-times it from the left but misses the goal by just a bit.

Haie with pressure again. A rebound bounces to the slot but nobody is there. Liberec can clear the puck away.

Kölns defender Zerressen with the first shot of the period from the right point but he misses.

Stephens takes some time off the clock with a good forecheck.

Penalty shot.
Stephens tries to deke Schwarz out but misses the net completely. It's still a 2-1 game.

Haie with high pressure and almost a score, Liberec the complete and then get another penalty as aus den Birken storms off the ice for the extra-attacker. As the whistle blows Stephens is awarded a penalty shot!

Köln defender Krupp sprints through the Liberec defense but can't get a clear shot on net.

Johnson with a try from the left circle, Schwarz can push it to the corner.

Kölns Tjärnqvist with the first shot on the powerplay which is an easy catch for Schwarz.

Liberecs defender Voracek stays down for a moment after he goot hit but can skate to the bench on his own.

Haie seem a bit nervous now making a few errors on the attack.

And just like that Liberec plays at full strength again and is one up.

Haie fans are on their feet and support their team loudly.

Jelinek gets the long pass and has some room but takes the shot a bit too early, no problem for aus den Birken.

Kölns Gogulla lets one go from the blue line but Schwarz flashes the leather and makes the glove save.

The game is much more controlled than in the first period so chances are rare right now.

Haie with a good attack as Falk is suddenly wide open in the slot but misses with a backhanded shot.

Filippi takes the puck in front of the net but aus den Birken gives him no room to score.

Liberecs defender Plutnar lets a one-timer fly but misses the net.

Haie start with their possession play and try to control the game.

Köln is pushing forward again and again but so far hadn't had another good chance.

It is a fast paced game with big chances on both sides. So far it is really fun to watch this game.

Haie are trying to get the goal back, Lüdemann enters the zone and passes it to Johnson in the middle who just can't put it in.

Jan Vitek now with a one-timer that aus den Birken can put away.

Köln is complete again.

Liberec now patient on the powerplay but no luck so far.

Bartek with a shot from the boards, save by aus den Birken.

Kölns topscorer Alexander Sulzer has to leave the ice, he is limping.

Köln is playing at full strength. Liberec had some shots from the outside on the powerplay.

Liberec with a shot from the right point, aus den Birken makes the save.

Minard tries a one-timer from the right circle but misses the net by a bit.

Rankin with the first shot of the game but Schwarz is there to make the save.

Both teams are on the ice now and the game is just a few more minutes away.

Both teams did never play each other. But there is one player that knows both cities well: Liberec captain Martin Bartek played for Köln in the 2009/10 season and scored 21 goals for the Haie.

It looks like both teams agreed do cancel the remaining minutes of the warm-up completely as the ice is already fresh and the pre-game-show here in LANXESS arena is going its regular way.

The warm-up is in full swing as one of the players of Liberec breaks a glass panel behind the Liberec goal. Warm-up will be suspended and continued after the panel is replaced so the game will probably start a few minutes later than planned.

Host Kölner Haie will play with exactly the lineup they used to win 2-1 against Kosice on Thursday.
The guests from Liberec will be without starting goaltender Ján Lašák, defenseman Jan Výtisk and forward Jan Víšek.

Starting lineups:

Kölner Haie: Aus den Birken (Stefaniszin) – Sulzer, Mo. Müller – Krupp, Tjärnqvist – Ankert, Lüdemann – Schmölz, Zerressen – Rankin, Falk, Ma. Müller – Minard, Johnson, Gogulla – Tripp (C), Stephens, Ohmann – Riefers, Pfohl, Weiss

Bílí Tygři Liberec: Schwarz (Vanecek) – Voráček, Škoula – Vitásek, Kajínek – Derner, Plutnar – Šimek – Bartek (C), Bulík, Vlach – Valský, Filippi, Bulíř – Urban, Vampola, Jelínek – Kica, Jass, Jonák

Referees: P. Lindqvist (FIN), D. Piechaczek (GER) – A. Kowert (GER), A. Schrader (GER).

Game Day 2 is up and we will see a matchup between two teams that had tight scores in round 1.

Köln won 2-1 against HC Kosice by playing very good defense and scoring both goals with the man-advantage. If there was one thing they want to change it would be taking less penalties as they also got scored on with a man down and could have generated more offense if not being pushed into the own zone shorthanded.

Liberec got the short stick of a 4-3 score against finnish champion Kärpät Oulu but showed some determination as they even trailed 4-0 at one point of the game and almost made it back. Goaltender Marek Schwarz took over from Jan Lasak and didn't let one through so it will be interesting to see if he will get the start in Köln.

Welcome. Game starts at 17:45.