The Quarter-Finals of the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League got underway on Tuesday night and in one of four matchups reigning champions the Frölunda Indians hosted Swiss debutants EHC Biel-Bienne, both looking for a good start in the first leg to put themselves in a good position heading into next weeks second leg.

Frölunda had the better start to the contest but couldn’t find an opening goal through the opening 20 minutes as Biel goalie Jonas Hiller came up with some big stops, saving all 13 shots he faced in the first period. The Swedes had a huge chance to open the scoring midway through the first, but Rhett Rhakshani and Johan Sundström just over handled the puck, and didn’t even manage a shot on net despite being right out in front of the blue paint. The closest Frölunda would get in the opening frame was a shot from the point by Theodor Lennström which beat Hiller, but couldn’t beat the post as it rang the iron and bounced away from the goal.

Frölunda started strong in the second, forcing an early save from Jonas Hiller, but the rest of the period saw the visitors Biel grow in confidence, and start to get themselves into the game. With an early powerplay opportunity, it gave Biel the break they needed. As Biel moved the puck around the zone, the puck found it's way in front to Jason Fuchs, who buried his chance to give the visitors a 1-0 lead less than halfway through the second period.

Frölunda had a chance to respond with back-to-back powerplay's, but still couldn't force a way past Biel goalie Hiller, and then right after a penalty against Damien Brunner expired, the Swiss forward was through on a breakaway, outwaiting Johan Mattsson before lifting the puck just over the body of the sprawling goalie, and after a review the call on the ice stood as a good goal, to make it 2-0 to the visitors from Switzerland after 20 minutes of play, despite Frölunda outshooting Biel 35-11 through two periods.

Things got even better for Biel early in the third period as a quick rush up ice was finished with a great shot from Marc-Antoine Pouliot to beat Johan Mattsson in the Frölunda net, to make it a three-goal lead less than a minute into the final period of the first leg. The hosts continued to plug away when they could, and eventually they found their break. A shot from Patrik Carlsson was blocked out in front, and fell favourably to Nicklas Lasu who ripped his shot past Jonas Hiller to make it a 3-1 game with less than 10 minutes to play, and it didn't take long for a second to follow as Joel Mustonen fired a great shot past Hiller, using the defenseman as a screen to make it a one-goal game, but they couldn't find the tying goal as Biel held on for a 3-2 victory in the first leg.