After five game days of the 2025/26 CHL season, the race for the playoff places remains extremely exciting. With only one round remaining, 15 teams are still fighting for the last eight places in the round of 16.
From Zug (9th place) to Lausanne (23rd place), all teams still have a chance of getting the playoff ticket – depending on the results of the twelve games on matchday 6.
Eight teams have already qualified for the playoffs: Ilves Tampere, KalPa Kuopio, Frölunda Göteborg, Sparta Prague, SC Bern, Rauma Lukko, Brynäs IF, ERC Ingolstadt. However, the field between places 9 and 23 is very narrow. Six clubs are currently on seven or eight points, while the teams ranked 15th to 23rd are separated by just three points – a testament to the level of balance just before the knockout phase.
The CHL tie-breaking formula, applied when two or more teams are tied, considers, in this order:
- More wins in regular time (3-point wins)
- More overall wins (including overtime and penalty shootouts)
- Better goal difference
These criteria could ultimately be decisive for the ranking. There are a total of seven tie-breaker criteria.
The 6th matchday on October 14th and 15th will finally determine which clubs win the last eight round of 16 tickets and thus complete the playoff table.
Image: EC Red Bull Salzburg
