Wednesday: Steelers face Pardubice for place in CHL last 16

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers take on Czech side Dynamo Pardubice on Wednesday night at the Utilita Arena with the hope of ending the night as part of Europe's top 16 teams.

The Steelers go into the game in an excellent position with nine points from five matches so far. Only a regulation loss, coupled with a certain combination of other results, would see the Steelers eliminated. Pardubice must win the game to make the next round or they could be eliminated a season after reaching the Quarter-Finals. If the Steelers lose in 60 minutes, doing so by less than four goals would help their cause - depending on results elsewhere.

Czech teams have struggled against EIHL opposition when playing in the UK, to put it mildly. The Extraliga is without a victory on the road against EIHL opposition since 2017 when Liberec won in Cardiff. Since then, Liberec themselves, Mountfield HK (twice), Pardubice, Třinec and Sparta have all been defeated in CHL fixtures in the UK. The Steelers have already beaten Sparta Prague this season.

Steelers fans will need to keep an eye on the games involving Tappara Tampere, Unia Oświęcim, Lahti Pelicans, and Eisbären Berlin tonight. Were all four to win in regulation, and the Steelers pick up no points, they'll be knocked out.

Only Nottingham have ever made it into the knockout staged of the Champions Hockey League, doing so back in 2017/18 when the competition comprised of 32 teams.