Växjö Lakers vs Tappara Prediction & Betting Tips - CHL 2026-27
Tappara to win, Tappara Over 2.5 Team Goals and Over 5.5 Goals are the best bets as the Finnish champions visit Växjö Lakers in the CHL.
Tappara's attack has been one of the most productive in the competition through two games, scoring 10 goals in a 6-3 win over Liberec and a 5-4 overtime defeat against Kölner Haie. The Finns have scored at least four in both matches and their power play has already emerged as a major weapon.
Växjö's 1-1 record does not tell the entire story. The Lakers were beaten 3-1 by Adler Mannheim in their opener and were outshot 31-8, with Mannheim scoring twice during the same power play. Växjö recovered to beat Nitra 3-1, although Ludvig Persson was still required to make 24 saves as Nitra generated several dangerous opportunities late.
Tappara should represent another significant step up in attacking quality. They were highly competitive against German regular-season winners Köln, with the shots finishing just 34-33 in the 5-4 overtime loss.
With Växjö yet to demonstrate the same level of offensive production, there is enough value to back the visitors outright while also leaning heavily into Tappara's scoring.
Key Stats and Betting Trends
Tappara have scored 10 goals across their opening two CHL matches.
Both Tappara games have produced nine total goals.
Tappara have scored five power-play goals across their opening two matches.
Växjö were outshot 31-8 by Mannheim in their opening CHL defeat.
Växjö Lakers Form
Växjö opened their campaign with a 3-1 defeat against Mannheim before responding with a 3-1 road victory over Nitra. The Lakers trailed 1-0 entering the third period in Slovakia before Karl Henriksson, Brian Cooper and Lucas Elvenes scored within a five-minute stretch to turn the game around.
Goaltending has been important in both games. Adam Åhman kept Växjö competitive despite Mannheim's huge 31-8 advantage in shots, while Ludvig Persson stopped 24 of 25 against Nitra. Växjö have therefore conceded only four goals through two games, but their goalies have already been asked to absorb considerable pressure.
Special teams could be particularly important here. Växjö conceded twice during the same Mannheim power play before Dennis Rasmussen answered with a power-play goal of his own. Facing a Tappara unit that has already produced five goals with the man advantage makes discipline a major concern for the Lakers.
Tappara Form
Tappara opened with an explosive 6-3 victory over Liberec before taking a point from a 5-4 overtime defeat against a strong Kölner Haie side. The Finnish champions have scored 10 goals already and generated 33 shots against Köln, only one fewer than the German side.
Aapeli Räsänen started the campaign with a hat-trick against Liberec, while Benjamin Rautiainen supplied three assists in that victory before scoring on the power play against Köln. Vilho Vanhatalo has also scored in both games, including the third-period power-play goal that forced overtime against Köln.
The power play has been the standout feature of Tappara's start. They went 3-for-8 against Liberec, with Räsänen scoring twice with the man advantage, before Rautiainen and Vanhatalo added another two power-play goals against Köln.
That gives Tappara five power-play goals through only two CHL games and provides a clear route to exploiting a Växjö side that had major problems on the penalty kill against Mannheim.