EV Zug manage to defend their 2:1 lead though. A very tight but well deserved win in front of their home fans.

Backstrom leaves the ice again.

Two minutes left in the game.
IFK with a 6 on 4 powerplay.

Visiting team IFK Helsinki timeout.

Backstrom leaves the ice in favour of an extra attacker.

Zug manage to clear the puck out of their defensive zone.

This powerplay could be IFK's last chance to find their way back into this game.

Can the Finnish side find an answer in the next four minutes?

With under five minutes left on the clock, the home team EV Zug look to have gained the upper hand in this game. They continue to keep the pressure on their opponents high, rather than simply seeing the game off.

Power break.

Home team EVZ at full strength.

Teppo's slapshot from the blue line finds Stephan's glove. The goalie can claim the rebound.

We see an increasing number of scoring chances at both ends. Both goalkeepers prove their quality.

Today's attendance is 3016.

Power break.

Five minutes into the third period, the game is still very much open and tight.

Puustinen breaks away on the right wing. His wrist shot from the right wing is just wide.

What a spectacular open-ice check by IFK's defender to deny Zug's forward on a break away.

The hosts start to build up pressure again.

Both teams at full strength.

Visiting team IFK at full strength.

Things are heating up here, as Helsinki's Asten and Zug's Helgling have a little rowing.

EVZ caught offside. Face off in the neutral zone.

Visiting team IFK at full strength.

IFK nearly getting a chance on a break away. But Diaz can settle the situation in the neutral zone.

Diaz slapshot from the blue line is blocked by Helsinki's defense.

Power break.

Zug increase the pressure on Backstrom once more. Will they find a way to double their lead?

Visiting team IFK at full strength.

EV Zug creating more chances on their powerplay, but can not find the back of the net.

Power break.

Zug had yet another chance to make it a two goal lead. Backstrom says no.

Corey Elkins' stick breaks in two as he is about to fire a slapshot from the blue line.

IFK Helsinki are off to a better start in the second period. They succeed to install themselves in their offensive zone.

The hosts build up pressure on IFK again.

Senteler testing Backstrom's reflexes with a shot from the left crease. The goalkeeper saves the puck with his pad.

For the first time in a few minutes IFK Helsinki succeed to carry the puck into Zug's defensive zone. No danger for Stephan.

The ambiance in Zug's Arena is starting to build up nicely.

Again it is Zug's Lino Martschini with one of his rushes on the right wing. His shot does not concern Backstrom too much though.
Power break.

The guest team start struggling to get the puck beyond the red line. EVZ definitely on getting stronger here.

The home fans are increasing the noise as their team start to increase pressure on their opponents.

Martschini with a nice wrist shot from the right wing, saved by Backstrom with his leg pads.

Face off in front of Backstrom's goal, followed by a slapshot by Schnyder. Far off target though.

Power break.
After a slow start both teams start to get into this game, with slight advantages for the IFK Helsinki.

Home team EVZ at full strength.

IFK with another attempt on their powerplay. Stephan handles the puck.

Helsinki's powerplay seems to be considerably more dangerous than Zug's just before. The Finnish side put massive pressure on Stephan's goal.

Visiting team IFK Helsinki at full strength.

Half decent shot by Grossmann from the blue line, misses the target.

Offeside given. Faceoff outside IFK's defensive zone.

The hosts struggle to put pressure on their first powerplay of the night.

First shots are fired on Tobias Stephan's goal. No problems for the Swiss goalie though.

Both teams are off the a rather careful start.

First attempt by EV Zug. Face off in front of Goalie Backstrom.

The game started.

Players are on the ice. All is set for another hot hockey night in Zug – with outside temperatures of up to 30 degrees !

Fans are entering Zug's state-of-the-art BOSSARD Arena, while interviews with EVZ iconic player Josh Holden as well as EVZ's new imports Carl Klingberg and David McIntyre are shown on the big screens. Welcome back interviews are also shown with Swiss players Timo Helbling and Zug-born Rafael Diaz, who came back to his hometown after five years overseas in the NHL.

For the second game the Zug side will now host the team considered to be favourites to win this Group G: IFK Helsinki of Finland. The seven-times Finnish Champions have topped the regular season in Finland with 8 points clear. They qualified for the playoff finals where they were second to Tappara Tampere, losing 2:4 on the series.

Only one of six games has been played in group G. Nonetheless it is safe to say at this early stage that EV Zug had a much better start into this season's Champions Hockey League. While they lost all of their four games of last season's campaign, this year they put themselves into a strong position after beating Danish champions Esbjerg Energy 8:3 in Denmark last Friday.

Starting lineups:

EV Zug: Stephan (Bader) – Helbling, Grossmann, Diaz, Alatalo, Schlumpf, Erni, Morant, Schmuckli – Klingberg, Immonen, Senteler – Suri, Holden, Martschini – McIntyre, Lammer, Zangger – Diem, Peter, Schnyder

IFK Helsinki: Backstrom (Lankinen) – Taimi, Eronen, Grillfors, Salmela, Finley, Teppo, Karjalainen, Heikkinen – Aaltonen, Puustinen, Nykopp – Ikonen, Petrell, Elkins – Saarelainen, Leino, Rask – Mieho, Asten

Referees: Krawinkel (GER), Mollard (SUI) – Kaderli, Kovacs (both SUI).

The game will start in about 30 minutes.

Hello and welcome to tonight's live coverage of the second game in Group G, where Swiss National League A team EV Zug will host Finnish Liiga team of IFK Helsinki.

IFK Helsinki start their CHL campaign on the road in Switzerland, having made the Round of 32 last season and the Quarter-Finals the one before that. Zug lead the group after a winning in Denmark in their opener, so while no team can qualify tonight a win for the hosts would put them six points clear at the top of the table.

"Our first home game of the 2016-17 CHL is going to be a very big test for our team. IFK Helsinki is a very strong, fast skating team and lost in the Finals of the SM Liiga last year," said captain Josh Holden. "We know we must be prepared for a hard fought, 60 minute game. Let's have some fun!"

Antti Tormanen, head coach of IFK added, "Zug is the fourth Swiss team we play against during the three seasons of CHL hockey and they've always been very tough games. We expect nothing less from Friday's game. We need to put in our very best effort if we want to win. Zug is one of the top teams in the Swiss league. They have a lot of talent both on defence and among forwards. It's great to start our season with a tough game like this." In those three previous meetings with NLA teams, IFK have failed to win in Switzerland – suffering two losses (one on penalty shots) and registering a tie.

Welcome. Game starts at 19:45.