Welcome. Game starts at 20:15.

It's second place in the NLA vs. first place in the SHL tonight in Switzerland!

Davos have played two teams from the SHL in the CHL so far this season, and have only lost one of the four games – that being the 1–0 home loss to Farjestad after OT in the group stages. The Swiss side have just two wins from their last five games (only one in regulation), and are just about holding on to second spot in the league. Interestingly, the team remains unbeaten in Sweden, yet has failed to beat an SHL team at Vaillant Arena in two attempts – the other game being a 1–1 tie against Skelleftea in the Quarter-Finals.

Frolunda have just one loss in their last five games, and are joint-leading the SHL with Skelleftea AIK. The Indians have lost all three first playoff legs they've played this season in the CHL, but then turned things around on home ice. "It will be a tough, but fun, semi-final. I expect a open game, with a lot of speed. We will stick to our gameplan, but are aware of Davos offensive skills," says Robin Figren. "We entered the tournament to win the cup and we still want to lift it on 9 February."

Davos will be without the injured Marcus Paulsson, Dario Simion, and Gregory Sciaroni (Handgelenkbruch); while Devin Setoguchi's fitness is also in doubt after being ill. New signing Alexandre Picard is not eligible for the CHL.

Thanks for joining me, and welcome to the Champions Hockey League Semi-final first leg between the reigning Swiss Champions HC Davos, and last years CHL runners-up, Frolunda Gothenburg of Sweden.

With the World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place next week in their picturesque mountain city, HC Davos decided to play the first leg of this semi-final at home. As the seeded team in this tie, they had the right to play the home game last, considered by many generally as an advantage, but decided that, due to the giant security operation being put in place for the WEF next week, it would make more sense all round to play the tie tonight instead.

Davos are the surprise package of this years tournament, breaking the Swedish-Finnish domination of the latter stages – they are the only team from outside of those two hockey-mad nations to reach the 1/4 finals of the new CHL, let alone the semi final. They eliminated most people's title favourite, Skelleftea with a superb road win in the quarters.

Davos have been rocked by a both injuries and a tough schedule of late, and are missing both Dario Simion and Gregory Sciaroni, with Devin Setoguchi also a doubt for this home leg. High scoring Swede Marcus Paulsson has already been ruled for the rest of the season due to an ongoing back injury; while his replacement Alexandre Picard is not eligible for the remainder of the CHL as the trade deadline has passed.

Face-off is at 20.15 C.E.T. tonight.

Starting lineups:

HC Davos: Genoni (Senn) – Guerra, Dubois, Forster, Schneeberger, Brejcak, Jung, Heldner, Paschoud – Ambuehl, Jorg, Walser – Lindgren, Axelsson D., Wieser M. – Setoguchi, Wieser D., Corvi – Kessler, Aeschlimann, Ryser.

Frölunda Gothenburg: Johansson (Gustafsson) – Larsson, Tommernes, Falth, Persson, Nilsson, Fantenberg, Lauridsen – Lundqvist, Rosseli-Olsen, Lasch – Abbott, Sundstrom, Johnson – Figren, Lehkonen, Carlsson – Stalberg, Ehn, Lasu, Axelsson A.

Referees: Gofman (RUS), Piechaczek (GER) – Bürgi (SUI), Wüst (SUI).

Both teams are out warming up now, and we've just over 30 minutes remaining until faceoff.

With just under 15 minutes remaining until faceoff here in Davos, Switzerland, the all Finnish semi final has already finished, and Karpat Oulu managed to come away from Lukko Rauma with a 2-3 away win.

Good news for Davos fans here, in that Devin Setoguchi is ready to play tonight. He'd been a doubt all weekend due to sickness, but is lining up tonight as normal.

Both teams are entering the ice surface, and it looks like that we have close to a full house tonight, that's great to see!

Davos lining up for the CHL hymn in their home blue and yellow, while the visitors from Gothenburg are in white and red shirts, with black shorts.

We're just about ready to go here, I hope you enjoy it!

Larsson
Tommernes
Lundqvist
Rosseli-Olsen
Lasch starting for the guests, with Jacvob Larsson in nets.

We're off, and we have our first iving off the game by Frolunda.

Quickly followed by an off-side!

Frolunda successfully kill the penalty, score remains at 0-0.

Davos have Mr Consistent Leonardo Genoni in nets, and started with Guera, Dubois, Ambuehl, Joerg and Walser.

Icing Davos. The Swedes are looking pretty confident out there, and are gaining the blue each time they head up ice.

Save Genoni – Frolunda break in 3 on 3 but the Davos nettie is up to the task and it remains 0-1 for Frolunda.

At the midway point of the first period, it's 6 shots to one for the visitors.

Good forechecking by Davos almost leads to a big chance, CTS Andreas Ambuehl doesn't mind getting his nose dirty!

Marco Juerg and Andreas Ambuehl with some great work down low, keep the puck in the Swedish zone for almost a minute. Davos have really stepped up a gear.

It's a full house here tonight and the home fans are really in great voice, top atmosphere!

This one is taking a while as the fans patiently await the result of the goal review.....

Corvi has come to life on the last few shifts, fore-checking, back-checking and he just fizzed one a couple of inches wide from just inside the blueline.

Big faceoff here for Walser in his own end with 50 seconds remaining. He wins it and Davos retain possesion.

The first period comes to an end, and Frolunda Gothenburg lead by the one goal.

A slightly cagey start sees a few mistakes from both sides, and Frolunda have two shots on goal already.

A critical couple of minutes already here for Davos as they can't afford to gho two goals down to this explosive Swedish outfit.

Frolunda should also not forget that Davos have, with 10, double the amount of short-handed goals that any other team has managed in this year's competition.

The hosts will have their own chance on the powerplay if they can kill the last 26 seconds of their penalty.

Delayed penalty for Davos.

Well the hosts managed to kill the first one, but Sven Jung has been called for 2 minutes.

Powerplay Frolunda.

The home crowd screaming for a penalty there as Corvy is felled behind the net, but neither ref is interested!

Davos' Axelsson and Lasu from Frolunda have a bit of a "chat" as they head to the bench after the play, keep an eye on those two, that wasn't the first time tonight words have been exchanged.

Davos really have their work cut out here, they are trailing by 2 and are being out-shot 9-19.

Nice slapper from the point by Joerg is heading for the top left corner, but the Swedish goalie gets the butt of his stick in the way and deflects it out of play.

Another big save by Johnasson on Guerra from the point, he's keeping the scores as they are right now as Davos up the pressure.

Despite trailing by 2 goals, the atmosphere is fantastic.

We'll be seeing this one again and again!

Davos HAVE to kill this one off if they're to have any chance of progressing in this semi-final.

Penalty over, great work by Corvi down low killed off vital seconds.

Joel Lundqvist and Ryan Lasch have been credited with the assists for the first Frolunda goal.

Just under 14 minutes remain in this one, and HCD have to strike now if they want to get back in the tie. Frolunda and their fanatical fans will be a tough enough proposition, let alone trailing by 3.

Penalties coming up here.

Once again Frolunda take a penalty almost immediately!

Time is running out here for the hosts, as we're into the last 5 minutes.

Penalty successfully killed by HCD.

We're into the final two minutes, and Frolunda Indians from Gothenburg have gone a long way towards reaching this years Champions League final.

But as always, the fans show massive respect and appreciation of their players, and will chant through the final minute.