HC Litvinov, Tappara Tampere the Espoo Blues and TPS Turku open the first leg of their eight-final series with home-ice wins.
TPS Turku 4–3 Storhamar Hamar
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For a while it looked like Storhamar would consider their improbable dominance in the CHL, scoring 3 goals in the first period. It was all TPS after that, however, as they scored 4 straight to win 4–3 win, and they'll take a 1-goal lead to Norway. Veteran defenceman Petteri Nummelin, former teammate of Storhamar coach Alexander Smirnov, provided the offensive spark for TPS by scoring a goal on a two-man advantage and assisting on 2 others.
"That was an interesting and exciting game," TPS head coach Ari-Pekka Selin said afterward. "We started the game well, but we also allowed three very weak goals. The situation was really bad. Of course we came on strong in the second period and then our leader of the night, Petteri Nummelin played an amazing period. We knew that Storhamar is a dangerous and hard working team and tonight we really felt that it is so. Let's see what happens next week."
Storhamar coach Smirnov agreed, stating, "In the first period, we played very well and scored three goals, but in the second we ade mistakes in our zone and in the neutral zone. TPS are a very good team. They put a lot of pressure on us and played some physical hockey. In the third we stabilized our game, but one more mistake in the neutral zone led to the fourth goal. I don't think we were bad today. Next week, it's a new game."
Espoo Blues 3–1 HV71 Jonkoping
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The Blues got the jump on visiting HV71, getting a short-handed and power-play goal each in the first 13 minutes to take a 2–0 lead. The teams then traded goals in the second period, but Espoo held the lead on home ice to take a 2–goal lead to Jonkoping next week. Eero Somervuori scored the Blues' second goal and assisted on the third to lead the offence.
“This is quite unusual setting in the playoffs as goal difference is the decider. Of course it’s much better to go on with a win than with a draw or loss,” Blues defenceman Kalle Kaijomaa explained. “We played a good, balanced game except a few turnovers in the neutral zone during the second period. Special teams were brilliant for us today. With such a good penalty killer as Mikko Kuukka is, him being out of the line-up forced us other guys to take a bigger role.”
Tappara Tampere 2–1 Lulea Hockey
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For two periods Lulea held the edge in play and out-shot Tappara 20–3 but trailed 1–0 thanks to great goaltending from Tomi Karhunen. Tappara then came with a push in the third and the teams traded goals 1:21 apart in the 47th and 48th minute, with Jani Lajunen scoring the game-winning goal to put Tappara up 1 goal after their home game in this series.
“Good vibes about the game. A tough win over a good Swedish team. We have to be happy about this,” said Tappara forward Henrik Haapala, who assisted on the winning goal. “In my opinion we played quite well. We tried to stay on the path we’ve followed this season. The main thing is to enjoy and have fun every night on the ice. Of course winning is always top-notch.”
HC Litvinov 2–1 Frolunda Gothenburg
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For the second-straight round, Frolunda have dug themselves a hole in the first leg of a series, although this time only by 1 goal. Litvinov were a goal up after 40 minutes, but the teams traded power-play markers early in the second – first Andreas Johnson tied it for Frolunda, then four minutes later Robin Hanzl scored the game-winning goal to put his team up by one goal heading to Gothenburg for game two.
“For me it was a great experience today, I am grateful," said Litvinov goalie Michael Petrasek, who stopped 20 of 21 shots. On his path this season, which started in the Czech second division, he added, "I start the season in Most and now suddenly against this team . . . I've allowed goals against Prostejov, Benatky nad Jizerou, and now only one against Frolunda. And more importantly we won, so I'm happy.”