Jani Lajunen became Sparta Praha’s hero with four power points. The other hockey CHL semifinal teams are Färjestad, Geneve-Servette and Zurich Lions.
The Finnish Center Jani Lajunen led Sparta Prague to a decisive 6-4 overtime victory over Växjö of the Swedish SHL in the 2nd quarter-final of the CHL with his tremendous performances.
The Czech team roared past Växjö by winning the third set 4–1 and finally progressing to the CHL semi-finals with 7–6 on aggregate, where they will face Färjestad, who are second in the SHL.
The 34-year-old Lajunen, who serves as Sparta Prague’s vice-captain, completed the 1-2 reduction and 61.57 in the 6–4 deciding goal scored in overtime.
In addition, the 2011 world champion scored Sparta Prague’s 3-3 tie in the third period and the 5-4 goal, with which the away team went to overtime (6-6 on aggregate).
In Växjö’s goal, the puck was blocked Adam Ohman with only 76.92 percent, and the club’s bench was consumed by Leijonien’s EHT tournament, which performed well Emil Larmi.
Sparta Praha’s foreign players also include a defender from Finland Valtteri Kemiläinen and the striker who was sidelined on Tuesday Miikka Salomäki.
Färjestad, who reached the semi-finals, beat Austrian Salzburg 7-3 on aggregate.
The reigning Swiss CHL champion Geneve-Servette beat the German team Bremerhaven 6–2 on aggregate. Sakari Manninen scored one goal on Tuesday in the second half that ended 2–2.
Five Finns played for Geneva Servette on Tuesday; keeper Antti Raantadefender Sami Vatanen and attackers Markus Granlund, Manninen and Oula Palve. Teemu Hartikainen was not in the lineup.
In the second semi-final of the CHL, the Swiss clubs will meet, as the Zürich Lions derailed the continuation with Eisbären’s combined goals 9–7. Three Finns played in Zurich Lions on Tuesday; defenders Mikko Lehtonen and Santtu Kinnunen whether the attacker Juho Lammikko.
The first CHL semifinals will be played on the 14th–15th. January and second parts 21–22 January. The final is scheduled for the 18th. February.
CHL semi-final results