The biggest game of the 2023/24 season is just over two weeks away and while we wait for the big night to roll around, here's a breakdown of who could be manning the nets in Geneva's Patinoire des Vernets on 20 February!
Missed the first part of our head-to-head series? Read it here!
Jussi Olkinuora
Ever since joining reigning National League champions Genève-Servette in mid-December, Jussi Olkinuora has been the go-to man in net for games on Europe's biggest club ice hockey stage and we don't see that changing ahead of the Final.
The Finn sports a near 91% save percentage and, combined with his four CHL games for the Lahti Pelicans earlier in the season, has made over 150 saves in seven games. The 33-year-old taps into Genève's successful partnership with Finnish players and became the sixth player on the current roster hailing from the country whose teams have won the European Club Champions title two times in the past.
Oh, and did we mention Olkinuora is the perfect man for the job having already played in and won a CHL Final (CHL Final 2018 with JYP Jyväskylä)?
Apart from that, his sparkling resumé also casually notes he's won two World Championship golds, is an Olympic Games gold medalist and has been named World Championship MVP, best goaltender and made the all-star team two times...
Linus Söderström
Before departing in early January, David Rautio was Skellefteå AIK's most-capped goalie of the season but Linus Söderström, who has manned the posts for the club's last four Champions Hockey League games, has taken over and guided the club all the way to the Final!
With over 110 saves, a near 90% save percentage this season and three full seasons of elite European club ice hockey under his belt, Söderström packs some solid stats.
The 27-year-old New York Islanders draftee is in his second season with Skellefteå and boasts experience from North America, Finland's Liiga and Sweden's youth and senior international teams.
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