Welcome. Game starts at 19:45.

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.

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.

The game will start in about 30 minutes.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

The game started.

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

Both teams are off the a rather careful start.

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

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

Offeside given. Faceoff outside IFK's defensive zone.

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

Visiting team IFK Helsinki at full strength.

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

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

Home team EVZ at full strength.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The hosts build up pressure on IFK again.

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

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

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

Power break.

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

Visiting team IFK at full strength.

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

Power break.

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

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

Visiting team IFK at full strength.

EVZ caught offside. Face off in the neutral zone.

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

Visiting team IFK at full strength.

Both teams at full strength.

The hosts start to build up pressure again.

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

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

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

Power break.

Today's attendance is 3016.

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

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

Home team EVZ at full strength.

Power break.

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.

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

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

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

Backstrom leaves the ice in favour of an extra attacker.

Visiting team IFK Helsinki timeout.

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

Backstrom leaves the ice again.

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