Liberec – Nitra 2:0 (end) | IFK Helsinki – Linköping 1:2 (end) | TPS – Düsseldorf 1:2 (0:1 after SO)
JYP – Frölunda 1:4 (end) | Košice – Klagenfurt 2:1 (3:0 after SO) | SønderjyskE – HV71 1:2 (end)
Stavanger – Kuopio 3:0 (end) | Storhamar – Genève 5:1 (end) | Ingolstadt – Växjö 5:3 (end)
Krefeld – Vienna 5:6 (end) | Färjestad – Pardubice 4:3 (after OT)
final
IFK Helsinki
1:2 (1:0, 0:2, 0:0)
Linköping HC
Thursday 03.09.2015, 17:30 • Helsingin Jäähalli • Champions League • 5 • Group 1
     
    Nichlas Hardt (Linköping forward):
    "Well it was a tough game. We knew they were gonna come hard and I think we adjusted pretty good and played a good game. We got better as the game went on."

    Hardt when asked about the upcoming game against Bern: "It’s gonna be another tough game and we wanna do our best like every game. We’re gonna go home now and practice some more and prepare well for the game against Bern."

    Antti Törmänen (IFK head coach):
    "Linköping was very good in the beginning of the first period, but we managed to turn it around and take control of the game. We played well after the first goal and got some chances on the power play in the beginning of the second. A few stupid penalties gave the game away to the opponent and they took a 2-1 lead.

    In the third we did what we could and got the some opportunities on the power play but just couldn’t get the puck in. We haven’t scored on the power play in the CHL this season and that just isn’t good. The opponents we’ve faced are top notch teams and if you lose control of the game the other team will get in on it and take over." (21:24:50)
     
    Linköping HC advances to the playoffs with a 1-2 win. IFK will now have to wait until Saturday to see the outcome of Bern vs. Linköping.

    Goal scorers of the night:

    1:0 Mika Partanen
    1:1 Gustav Forsling
    1:2 Nichlas Hardt

    Ville Husso, 21 saves
    Marcus Högberg, 23 saves

    - I am Niko Korkiakoski and I hope you enjoyed the game.
     
    Game over.
     
    59:55
    Face off at the neutral zone.
     
    59:55
    Great chances for the home team but no goal! Time is running out.
     
    59:30
    IFK tries to tie the game 6 on 4.
     
    59:06
    Husso leaves the net and IFK gets the extra attacker. At the same time Linköping's Rahimi is given a 2 minute penalty for slashing.
     
    58:54
    Coach Törmänen calls time out.
     
    58:54
    Just over a minute left and the face off is taking place in IFK's defensive end.
     
    58:08
    The puck goes over the boards at Linköping's offensive zone.
     
    Today's attendance is 4894.
     
    56:59
    Just over 3 minutes left of the period.
     
    56:33
    Linköping time out.
     
    56:23
    Both teams at full strength.
     
    55:23
    IFK fans trying to get the crowd going while the home team gets a great scoring chance on the PP.
     
    54:23
    2 minute penalty for delaying the game.
     
    53:58
    The puck is deflected into the stands by Rakhshani.
     
    52:19
    Törmänen giving some advice to his players on the bench. The home team is really in need of a goal right now.
     
    51:49
    Sorensen with a scoring chance in front of the net but IFK defence puts him to sleep. No goal.
     
    50:29
    IFK couldn't get it going on the PP. Teams at full strength.
     
    48:29
    Linköping just gets to full strength when another penalty is given. 2 minutes for Sorensen for high-sticking.
     
    47:03
    Leino with a shot from the blueline and Elkins tips it just wide of the net.
     
    46:07
    IFK will try to tie the game on the PP. Karlsson gets 2 minutes for hooking.
     
    45:31
    Grillfors with a slap shot from the point but breaks his stick on the attempt.
     
    44:36
    Gordon with a missed opportunity in front of Husso. Great D from IFK.
     
    44:14
    Hogberg stops the puck as IFK tries to tie the game.
     
    41:48
    Teams are at full strength.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Saves from the 2nd period, Husso 7, Hogberg 8.
     
    The game will resume in two minutes.
     
    IFK started the 2nd period on the upper hand but had a couple of penalties and Linköping turned the game around. The visitors now lead 1-2 thanks to Forsling and Hardt.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:48
    Generous stops a scoring chance from Linköping and gets called for tripping. A two minute penalty is given.
    Nichlas HARDT - 1:2
     
    39:05
    Goal for Linköping!
    NICHLAS HARDT with a wrister from the right face off circle. Hits it top shelf!
     
    37:57
    Linköping gets nothing done on the PP. Partanen is back on the ice and the teams are both at full strength.
     
    35:57
    Mika Partanen will sit down for 2 minutes for holding.
     
    34:52
    Both teams full strength.
     
    34:37
    Elkins steals the puck and gets into a good spot just to be denied by Hogberg.
     
    32:52
    Micke Max gets 2+2 for roughing. Linköping now on the power play.
     
    32:52
    2 minute roughing penalty for Hansson.
    Gustav FORSLING - 1:1
     
    31:48
    Goal for Linköping!
    GUSTAV FORSLING with the tying goal with a slap shot from the blueline. Husso is stunned. Assisted by: Rhett Rhakshani and Sebastian Karlsson.
     
    31:03
    Teemu Ramstedt wont get away with that. 2 minutes for tripping.
     
    30:39
    Hardt with an attempt from the blueline. Husso stops it with the catching glove.
     
    29:31
    Billins shoots the puck from the blueline. Puck just goes wide.
     
    28:40
    Rask with a great scoring chance but Hogberg shuts the door!
     
    27:59
    Home team moving the puck nicely and trying to do some damage on the PP.
     
    26:32
    Fredric Andersson is going to sit for a while (2 minutes) for tripping.
     
    26:18
    IFK has taken control of the game early in the second period.
     
    25:10
    The home team getting the crowd noisy.
     
    24:04
    IFK giving some pressure at the attacking zone. But no goals so far in the second period.
     
    21:10
    IFK with a couple of good attempts on the power play but teams are at full strength now.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Were just about to start the second period.
     
    Saves from the first period. Husso 9, Hogberg 4
     
    First period is over and the home team leads by one. Mika Partanen had the only goal of the period to make it 1-0 for IFK.

    Both teams had some good chances but IFK played really good defensively to take a well earned 1-0 lead. The home team was hungrier than the visiting Linköping.

    Interesting second period coming up and IFK gets to start it on a one man advantage.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:48
    The buzzer goes off when there's still 12 seconds left on the clock. Some technical problems I guess. Players are not happy.
     
    19:44
    Coach Törmänen giving some advice to the players at the IFK bench.
     
    19:10
    Gordon gets 2 minutes for cross checking and the home team has an opportunity to extend the lead.
     
    17:40
    Linköping not getting close to the net. IFK playing good defense.
     
    15:48
    Hogberg comes up big with a nice pad save.
     
    14:42
    Linköping going for the tie but Husso being really solid at the moment.
    Mika PARTANEN - 1:0
     
    14:10
    Goal for IFK Helsinki!
    MIKA PARTANEN with a huge shot from the left side and it beats Hogberg! Assisted by: Daniel Grillfors.
     
    13:17
    Zaborsky with a good chance from the slot but sweeps the dust off the puck.
     
    13:03
    Taipalus shoots the puck one meter too high of the net.
     
    11:55
    IFK with a great opportunity in front of the net but Hogberg says no.
     
    11:26
    Husso gets tested by Top Scorer Andrew Gordon.
     
    10:00
    Billins with a wrister front the point but Husso catches the easy attempt.
     
    08:53
    Home team fans chanting IFK! IFK! IFK!
     
    07:22
    Both teams full strength.
     
    07:13
    Home team playing solid on the pk.
     
    05:22
    Åsten goes to the penalty box for kneeing and Linköping gets their first power play of the night.
     
    03:26
    Partanen with a shot from the faceoff circle but Hogberg is the man.
     
    01:40
    Linköping get's a good shot on goal but Husso denies.
     
    00:37
    Husso with a great save!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams skate on the ice and the home crowd goes crazy!
     
    Game will start in 10 minutes.
     
    Starting lineups:

    IFK Helsinki: Husso, (Lankinen) – Taipalus, Grillfors, Järvinen, Generous, Auvitu, Teppo, Heikkinen – Zaborsky, Ramstedt, Rask, Partanen, Elkins, Puustinen, Luttinen, Leino, Ikonen, Tamminen, Åsten, Saarelainen, Mieho

    Linköping HC: Hogberg, (Rautio) – Junland, Rahimi, Billins, Forsling, Karlsson A., Hansson – Karlsson S., Little, Hardt, Gordon, Andersson, Rakhshani, Lilja, Sorensen, Fogstrom, Kolbrink Blomberg, Hellholm, Norman Rondahl

    Referees: Hejduk (CZE), Hakkarainen – Neva, Pesonen (All FIN).
    Helsingin Jäähalli
     
    IFK Helsinki and Linköping HC will face off against each other on Thursday night for the second and last time in the group stage. IFK came off a two game four point stretch against Bern just to be shutdown at Saab Arena by the home team Linköping on Sunday. Petter Hansson and Rhett Rakhshani both scored once to lead their team to a 2-0 victory over it’s Finnish rival. Linköping's goalie David Rautio had 16 saves on the shutout that night, while Kevin Lankinen stopped 26 out of 28 shots at the other end.

    Linköping (2 games played) leads group A with five points, IFK (3 games played) is second with one point less and Bern (3 games played) holds the last spot with three points. The winner of Thusday’s match will advance to the playoffs and the loser will have to wait and see until Saturday when Bern and Linköping go head-to-head in Switzerland in the last game of the group stage.

    That being said, there really is a lot at stake in Helsinki and there will most definitely be some tension in the air. The game will be the first real home game for IFK, since having to play it’s home game against Bern in Espoo nearly two weeks ago. But now they will have to show up in front of their home crowd in Helsinki and give a perfect performance if they want to beat the yet undefeated Linköping.

    The Top Scorer for IFK is Mika Partanen with two points and Andrew Gordon for Linköping with three points scored.

    Ville Husso will be back in the net for IFK and defender Tommi Taimi is out due to illness. Otherwise the home team will be the same as Sunday except for a few line combination changes made.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
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    Commentary by

    Sami Iilomo

    CZ@@iilomo

    Niko Korkiakoski

    CZ@NikoKorkiakoski

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 15. Partanen (Grillfors, Ramstedt) – 32. Forsling (Rakhshani, Karlsson S.), 40. Hardt (Junland)

    IFK Helsinki: Husso, (Lankinen) – Taipalus, Grillfors, Järvinen, Generous, Auvitu, Teppo, Heikkinen – Zaborsky, Ramstedt, Rask, Partanen, Elkins, Puustinen, Luttinen, Leino, Ikonen, Tamminen, Åsten, Saarelainen, Mieho
    Linköping HC: Hogberg, (Rautio) – Junland, Rahimi, Billins, Forsling, Karlsson A., Hansson – Karlsson S., Little, Hardt, Gordon, Andersson, Rakhshani, Lilja, Sorensen, Fogstrom, Kolbrink Blomberg, Hellholm, Norman Rondahl
    Referees: Hejduk (CZE), Hakkarainen – Neva, Pesonen (All FIN)
    Attendance: 4894