Read below for information about the eighth-final series between HC Davos and Bili Tygri Liberec. Davos won 9–6 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.

Game 2

They were in good shape coming home with a 2-goal lead, and they doubled that in the first period of this game by taking a 3–1 lead. Liberec made things interesting by scoring twice early in the second to tie the game, but they couldn't get any closer. With a late power play, they pulled their goalie and Dino Wieser put the series away with a short-handed empty-netter, his second goal of the game. Samuel Walser had a goal and an assist for Davos, while Petr Jelinek scored twice for Liberec.

"In a way we beat ourselves," Jelinek admitted. "At home we gave them three odd-man chances in the first period and they scored three goals. Again today we gave them the chances and they scored three goals, but otherwise I think we were the better team."

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Game 1

A sell-out crowd of 7,148 saw an exciting hockey game in Liberec with eight goals, but didn't get to see their hometown White Tigers win. Davos scored twice in the first 10 minutes, and the teams traded goals after that, meaning the Swiss club will open next week's game at home with a 2-goal lead. Andres Ambruhl led Davos with 2 goals and 1 assist, while veteran Branko Radivojevic replied with 2 goals for Liberec.

“We played a strong opponent, and furthermore, Davos were really efficient today,” Liberec coach Filip Pesan said in praise of the visiting Swiss club. “It's a shame we didn't score the first goal, because the game would've possibly looked different. But the truth is that our opponent played very well tonight.”

Davos coach Arno del Curto reacted, “We were missing a lot of players, especially on defence today. I am really satisfied with our performance here because we beat a top team in the Czech league. Liberec now must play even better to come back. I expect them very strong next week.”

GAME HIGHLIGHTS | LIVE BLOG & STATS

Preview

In their first Champions Hockey League campaign, Swiss champions HC Davos have looked mightily impressive as they claimed supremacy in Group E, and then came from behind to beat IFK Helsinki in the Round of 32. They say offence wins glory, but defence wins championships, and Davos have exemplified this perfectly so far, conceding just 10 goals in six games, with star goaltender Leonardo Genoni looking in particular to be in fine form. The Swiss champions will travel to face Bili Tyri Liberec, who were mightily impressive in their own right in the Round of 32, where they not only beat Linkoping HC, but annihilated them. Liberec has shown an ability to score in bunches, which may make this series a battle between the offence of Liberec and the defence of Davos.

Closer look: HC Davos

(4-0-1-1, 13 points, 18:10)

HC Davos took 10 of a possible 12 points to win Group E, which included both Farjestad Karlstad and HC Pardubice – no pushovers. They then faced an even tougher test in IFK Helsinki, and after dropping the opener 2–1 in the Finnish capital, they came on home ice to tie and win the aggregate score in the final period, with Dario Simion netting the winner with just 1:10 to play. But while the defending Swiss champs have been motoring along in the CHL, they're currently mired in mediocrity in the Swiss NLA, battling it out in the middle of the pack. They face a stiff test in the next round of the CHL against a team that is on fire, but they've passed all the tests they've been handed so far.  

Dario

Simion

3+3, +5

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: In his first full season as a pro, Dario Simion scored 27 points in 43 NLA games, then 9 more in the playoffs en route to Davos's title. The 21-year-old winger continues to show his offensive flair this year in the CHL, leading the team in scoring through its first six games, including their biggest goal so far late in the Round of 32. 

 

Jan

Brejcak

1+1, +5

 

Top Defenceman: 26-year-old Slovak defenceman Jan Brejcak is a huge presence on the Davos blueline, is a physical force and is very defensively responsible. This year in the CHL he's shown a bit of an offensive flare too with a goal and an assist, on a team that doesn't get a lot of scoring from the back end.

 

Leondardo

Genoni

95.51%

 

Top Goaltender: Leonardo Genoni has been one of the real stories of the CHL so far this season and was almost unbeatable in goal for Davos in the group stage – 1 shutout and just 1 goal against in each of the other three games, despite high shot totals against him. He then kept IFK Helsinki to 2 goals in each game in the next round. 

Click here for team statistics.

 

Closer look: Bili Tygri Liberec

(4-0-0-2, 12 points, 23:13)

Bili Tygri Liberec have been one of the surprise stories of this hockey season, both in the CHL and domstically. While their group stage was a bit of a mixed bag and they finished second, they got everyone's attention with a pair of convincing victories over a strong Swedish club – Linkoping HC – in the Round of 32, winning by a 10–4 aggregate. The White Tigers have shown an ability to get off to strong starts, having scored four or more goals in the first period in three of their six CHL games so far! Their win over Linkoping was no fluke, either, as this club that has been mired in the nether regions of the Czech Extraliga in recent years is off to a blazing start, continuing to battle for top spot a quarter-way through.  

Michal

Repik

5+2, +2

 

Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: With the number of goals they've scored so far, Liberec have several players with impressive point totals, but leading the way is Michal Repik with 7 points in six games. Another player who's hot right now is Michal Bulir, who also has 5 goals – all 5 coming in the two games against Linkoping. And although he only has 3 CHL points so far, veteran winger Branko Radivojevic is the team's leading scorer in the Czech Extraliga with 11 points through 12 games. 

Martin

Sevc

0+1, +1

 

Top Defenceman: Martin Sevc was probably the biggest name to come to Liberec this summer. The 34-year-old defenceman is one of the most experienced players in his team – he collected four SHL titles and also played in the Worlds once. That’s exactly what Liberec was searching for, but sometimes he’s a bit more offensive-minded than he should be, which gives chances to opponents. But you can always count on good passing skills, a big slapper from the point and a strong physical game from him.

 

Jan

Lasak

91.90 %

 

Top Goaltender: Liberec's No.1 goalie Jan Lasak had it 50/50 in the group stage, collecting 2 shutouts against Nitra but having more trouble against Skelleftea. Domestically he's been on fire, leading the Czech Extraliga in wins at the quarter-point. Marek Schwarz got the call both games against Linkoping, but we'll see which way they go against Davos. 

 

Click here for team statistics.