It wasn't a cakewalk, but JYP Jyvaskyla got the three points they were looking for, beating the Gap Rapaces 4-1. Read more in Gamecentre. 

The Gap Rapaces showed last season that Alp Arena isn't an easy place for a visiting team to play, and JYP Jyvaskyla found that out on Friday. Still, they persevered and got the offence they needed in a short period of time. 

Les Rapaces employed a physical, tight checking system and nearly got out of the first period without any damage, but Robert Rooba converted a rebound in the 17th minute to get JYP on the board. In the second period, they broke it open with three goals in the first three minutes. Defenceman Juuso Pulli and forwards Anssi Lofman and Rooba each recorded two points for the victors. Cedric Di dio Balsamo closed the gap to three goals on a breakaway in the third period, but that's as close as the birds of prey would come.  

Di dio Balsamo said afterward, “It was a good game, but there was a lack of concentration at the beginning of the second period and JYP scored three goals in two minutes. After that, though, we got ourselves back in the game, and we can be proud of that.”

“We worked hard. JYP is a good team, and we had a good reaction after being behind 4-0," agreed Gap head coach Luciano Basile. "Maybe we were too shy and at this level of play is diffcult. The second half of the game was much better. I hope Sunday we go to ice like this. Even if we're less technical, we're able to compete. We need to be more agressive and use our speed more.”

JYP coach Marko Virtanen thought, “Our game went a bit too up and down today. We were nervous at the start, and although they played well we came into it in the middle period. By the end of the game the ice was so bad it made the game very difficult.”