Quick Glance:

Everyone expects this series to be Stockholm’s EEE Line against Attila Adorjan in the Hussars’ net. Maybe they will cancel each other out. And both teams’ best lines – in plus/minus – were their second lines (Pageau and Suzuki). So maybe it will come down to which team has the better depth. In the regular season, they played each other 7 times and there were three one-goal decisions as Minsk won 4 games and Stockholm won 3. This could be a closer series than many anticipate.

Goalies:

• Stockholm – Connor Hellebuyck, 3.19 GAA, .893 save pct.
• Minsk – Attila Adorjan, 2.13 GAA, .911 save pct.

Top Plus/Minus players:

• Stockholm – Jean-Gabriel Pageau +20
• Minsk – Nick Suzuki and Brock Faber +49

Expert Panel Predictions:

• Commissioner Chuck: Stockholm in 7 games. Minsk is feeling a little deflated after the sour way their season ended and if Connor Hellebuyck can stonewall them in one of the first two games in Belarus, the Swedes might be advancing.
• Rose: Minsk in 5 games. The Hussars really played great this season. At times, they played with as much determination and grace as Mikko Mantykoski displayed walking the catwalk in the GM Swimsuit Competition. I can’t see Minsk falling to Stockholm. Sorry, you Swedish meatballs.