CHL gameday liveblog 26.8. (end)
event end
CHL gameday liveblog 26.8.

Friday 26.08.2016, 13:00Champions Hockey League gameday liveblog
     
    Good evening to you all, and welcome to another night of CHL hockey!

     
    Here we go, it's face-off time!
     
    Goal!

    Or should that be goals, plural. Absolute disaster of a start for Cracovia in Prague, 2-0 down after just a minute
     
    Could be another in Lukko, we have a video review going on...
     
    Goal!

    Also an early one up in Rauma... ZSC take the lead after the video referee takes a look at it – Chris BALTISBERGER at 2:19.

    Going to have to assume the video referee has seen something we didn't get on the TV replays, because it didn't look very convincing from the angles we saw!
     
    A reminder that the other games also on are Liberec vs. TPS, and Karpat vs. Vitkovice.

     
    Goal!

    TPS take the lead in Liberec, scored by Patrik VIRTA!
     
    Goal!

    Baring in mind that they're eliminated tonight by not winning, Cracovia have got nothing to lose in Prague – and they've gone and got themselves on the board and back in the game thanks to Damien SLABON at 12:40.
     
    Goal!

    Things aren't looking healthy for Lukko Rauma either – ZSC Lions now two ahead with Patrik BARTSCHI pouncing on a rebound shorthanded with just under 11 minutes played.

    A point gets the Zurich-side through to the next round.
     
    So as the clock ticks down on the first period in our four live games so far, it's just up in Oulu where we're waiting for a goal – Karpat & Vitkovice currently scoreless.
     
    Underway in period two across the board!
     
    Goal!

    Haaaaaaaaaang on there a minute! This was not in the script for Sparta... Cracovia have equalised! Maths CHOVAN at 21:56 puts the Poles level!
     
    Goal!

    A little over six minutes after Cracovia tied the game in Prague, Sparta are back ahead thanks to 27:58 Petr KUMSTAT.

     
    And it's four for Sparta, Tomas NETIK scores just past the halfway mark, and Cracovia will have to do it all again now if the want to stand any chance at avoiding elimination tonight.
     
    As things stand

    - Sparta AND Farjestad qualify to the Round of 32
    - ZSC Lions will join them
    - Karpat will also qualify if they can take the game against Vitkovice to OT, currently it's without a goal.
     
    Almost an opening goal in Oulu, but Karpat's Niemelä managed to miss a pretty much open net.
     
    The final game of today starts in Zug in 20 minutes, with the home side entertaining IFK Helsinki.
     
    Damian Kapica, top scorer for Cracovia, has pulled his side back to within one of Sparta Prague again towards the end of the middle session. 51s left on the period, Sparta 4-3 ahead.
     
    Two periods down...

    Lukko Rauma 0-2 ZSC Lions
    Sparta Prague 4-3 Cracovia
    Karpat Oulu 0-0 Vitkovice

    And there still playing in Liberec, where the home side trail TIPS by a goal.
     
    So we're back playing period three in Prague, Oulu, and Rauma; while in Zug they're just starting against HIFK.
     
    They're also back out on the ice on Liberec, the home side trailing TPS by one.
     
    Goal!

    Well would you believe that.. DRZEWIECKI has tied the game for Cracovia in Prague, and it's 4-4!
     
    Literally just over six minutes left to play in Oulu, and still neither side can find a breakthrough.
     
    Just to remind you what's at stake here...

    Karpat will qualify to the Round of 32 with a point against Vitkovice, which is scoreless so far.

    ZSC go through with a point in Rauma – they lead Lukko by two in the final period.

    Sparta and Farjestad go through if Cracovia fail to win in any fashion in Prague. It's currently four each.
     
    That goalless 60 minutes in Oulu is enough for Karpat to make the Round of 32. They'll play overtime against Vitkovice though for the extra point.
     
    Goal!

    Lukko Rauma back in it at home to ZSC, a PP goal from NHL-draftee ALEKSI SAARELA .

    And HANG ON – it's 2-2!
     
    55:30 played in Prague, and Netik pops up again to put Sparta 5-4 ahead.
     
    Meanwhile overtime has started in the Karpat-Vitkovice game, and Liberec are looking to tie the game late at home to TPS.
     
    ZSC through

    A point is enough for the Lions to make the next round, as this game ends at two each and into OT.
     
    Goal!

    Couple of crucial ones here... Karpat have beaned Vitkovice in OT thanks to Mikko Niemela at 62:57.

    And in Liberec, the home side have tied things up in the closing stages against TPS!
     
    We're on a shootout in Rauma and ZSC can't be separated after OT.
     
    Game over!

    The shootout in Rauma is over! INTI PESTONI came up big in the fifth series to secure two points for ZSC, who would make the next round even if Lukko won in this shootout.
     
    65 minutes of play weren't enough to reveal the winner in Liberec, as the game between Bili Tygri and TPS will be also decided in a shootout.
     
    Sparta through, Cracovia out

    The game between Sparta Prague and Comarch Cracovia offered a lot of drama but the underdogs weren't able to hang in until the final buzzer, as Netik scored the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining. This means that Sparta and Farjestad will advance, while Cracovia is out of this year's competition.
     
    Karpat advances

    The game in Oulu between Karpat and Vitkovice is also finished, MIKKO NIEMELA scored the game-winner (and the only goal of the game) three minutes into overtime. While the Finnish outfit is through to the play-offs, Vitkovice will have to win at home against Krefeld and hope that the Germans come up short in Oulu.
     
    Spina wins TPS the extra point

    Turku's DAVE SPINA pulled a perfect Forsberg-style deke on Roman Will of Bili Tygri Liberec in the seventh round of the shootout, and thus secured TPS the extra point – 1:2 after shootout is the final score.
     
    The only remaining game currently underway is the one in Zug, between the home Swiss side and IFK Helsinki. The score is 1:0 for Zug midway through the game.
     
    Juhamatti Aaltonen had a great chance to tie it up for Helsinki, but Tobias Stephan stood on his head to keep it 1:0 for Zug. Both teams are headed to the dressing room after 40 minutes of play.
     
    Less than 10 to play in Switzerland, Zug still leading HIFK by the single goal.
     
    Emanuel Peter slots home from close range and Zug now lead HIFK by 2-0 late on.
     
    Late PP for HIFK as they trail 2-0 in Zug. Pretty much now or never...
     
    1:45 left in Zug and HIFK are back in this, 2-1 they now trail.
     
    An exciting finish there in Zug, but the home side hold on for a big 2-1 victory! (22:06:47)

    Luke Fisher

    Vojtěch Balon