The Champions Hockey League group stages often sees mixed results for the Swedish teams - and this year was no exception.
A combination of the fact that the Swedish teams are often much better than their opposition on paper, it is the first competitive matches of the season and that Swedish fans do not prioritise the CHL games often leads to lacklustre performances from the SHL teams.
This year Färjestad BK and Stockholm Djurgården IF were the only teams from Sweden to win both their matches with the Karlstad team putting eight goals past their opponents in the Löfbergs Arena. Djurgården won 2-1 away from home against Vienna Capitals and both teams currently lead their groups but still have matches against German teams, who are likely to be their strongest challengers in the groups.
Only three other teams collected all six points in the first two rounds, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), EHC Biel-Bienne (SUI) and last year's defeated finalists, Red Bull Munich (GER).
Skellefteå AIK have a special habit of under performing in the CHL as they proved again on Sunday losing 1-2 at home to French side Grenoble. They managed to gain just one point in two home matches when they won in overtime back on Friday against SC Bern but still lie bottom of their group.
Luleå HF were also taken into overtime, but this was against German newcomers to the CHL, Augsberg Panthers, who then went on to win their first ever CHL match 2-3 even though they were away from home. The Swedish club at least managed to win their second game and finish the first two matches with four points.
Perhaps the biggest shock of the first 2 rounds of the CHL is that current champions Frölunda Indians lost both their matches at home against opposition from Austria and the Czech Republic.
Despite going ahead against Austria's newcomers Graz 99ers 2-0 after only 62 seconds, the visitors would later take the lead 4-5 with three unanswered goals. It was Ryan Lasch who rescued the point for the champions with 6:15 to go to take it to 5-5 but the Swedish and CHL champions lost on penalties.
Against Czech team, Mountfield HK, all the goals came in the second half of the game. But a second goal by Frölunda's New York Islanders drafted Rhett Rakhshani with 3:41 to go in the third was not enough and Mountfield won 2-3.
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