In their first CHL game since December 2014, SaiPa Lappeenranta scored a 4-2 win over Eisbaren Berlin. Read more in Gamecentre.

Eisbaren Berlin missed the chance to go alone in first place in their group with a tight home loss to SaiPa Lappeenranta at Mercedes Benz Arena.

The first period saw the home side have more than their fair share of chances and possession, while the Finns looked dangerous on the break. Die Eisbaren took the lead at 13:57 in somewhat controversial circumstances – a scramble in the crease eventually saw Nick Petersen poke the puck home but the SaiPa players were adamant the goal should not stand due to crease violations. The referees however, after video review, didn't agree and the goal stood. Berlin's lead lasted for just over a minute though – John McFarland helping himself to a rebound to tie the game at 15:01 and end the period at one each.

Jooma Jaaskelainen put the visitors ahead early in the middle period, before the home side rallied to create long spells of pressure – just without managing the breakthrough. A power-play chance towards the end of the period should have been a chance for the Eisbaren to level; however, Matti Jarvinen pounced on a loose puck to cooly slot home on the breakaway shorthanded and increase SaiPa's lead to two. In the final period the Eisbaren huffed and puffed but were unable to find a way past Jussi Markkanen. Daniel Fischbuch did pull one back with around ten minutes to go, but a blistering snapshot from Brett Carson cancelled it out to give SaiPa a 4-2 win.

Uwe Krupp post-game thought that SaiPa overall deserved to win. "To be fair, I think it was the right result. They played with a high physical tempo and are a good team. We played well too, created some good scoring chances, but couldn't get the goals when we needed them," he said.

SaiPa head coach Ari Santanen agreed, saying, "We tried to be physical and play hard. It was a tough game, both teams skated very hard through 60 minutes, and I think that we defended better than Berlin. We always have a chance to score playing like that, and we did so."