Lukko Rauma and TPS Turku figured to be a closely-contested Quarter-Final and it sure was, with both regulation games ending tied. The hero was Turo Asplund, who scored in the shootout-winner to decide it in favour of Lukko.
Lukko Rauma 2–1 TPS Turku 
LUKKO WIN ON AGGREGATE 5–4 (SO)
by Luke Fisher, with contribution from Timo Simila
RAUMA – Another tight game saw Lukko Rauma host TPS Turku after last week's 3–3 tie in Turku. In a game of few goals, it was no surprise to see the two sides go the distance, with Lukko eventually prevailing a shootout to advance to the Champions Hockey League Semi-Finals.
“Both teams tonight played at the level this tournament deserves. It was shown in both teams that the motivation to advance was high and therefore the show was great tonight,” Lukko coach Risto Dufva said about the highly intense game between two evenly-matched teams.
With the tied score form last week in mind, both sides started this game cautiously, with a two power play chances for the visitors and some flared tempers really the only notable action in the opening period, despite the home side out-shooting their opponents 8–3.
“After a difficult start we got up the tempo but we couldn’t adjust our game since Lukko gave us tons of pressure playing hard and playoff-like hockey. Oskari Setanen kept us in the game throughout the second period,” TPS coach Ari-Pekka Selin said about his team trying to catch up to Lukko.
Dufva responded, “I agree with Atu about the events on ice. If we were to win in regulation, the second period was our chance. We scored only once there, not more.”
The break in the deadlock came in the middle period, although not long before the break. With 35:52 played, Toni Koivisto found Ville Vahalahti, who neatly slotted home from out in front to put the home side ahead on the night and in the series.
The score would stay like that for almost exactly 20 minutes, before late drama arrived. Harry Tikkanen's wind up for the snapshot caused him to break his stick – but at the same time deceived Lukko goalie Ryan Zapolski as the puck looped up into the air and flew deftly into the net to give us a tied game with under four minutes to go.
A late power play for the home team gave them the chance to win the game in the final two minutes after Tadas Kumeliauskas took a slashing minor, but his team held out, leaving the series tied at 4 each on aggregate, and needing overtime.
Lukko started the extra period the brighter, still enjoying the power play that carried over over from the end of the third period – however, despite a couple of guilt-edge chances, they couldn't make their advantage count. A nervy overtime period saw Lukko have the better of the chances, although susceptible to a fast TPS breakout. Rory Ahonen had probably the best chance of the extra session, but he could only shoot directly at Setanen from an unmarked position in the slot. No goals in OT meant we headed for the shootout.
Perhaps befitting the style of the game that had preceded it, the shootout also served up high drama in a tense finish to the game. The opening three rounds went by as neither side found a goal, with Koivisto, Aaron Gagnon, and Ville Vahalahti all having their shots saved for the home side, while at the other end of the ice Eric Perrin and Petteri Nummelin were stopped and Kumeliauskas missed the target completely. In round four, up stepped Turo Asplund who calmly rocketed his shot into the top shelf, before Kallio saw his shot saved at the other end. Janne Lahti skated in on Setanen with the chance to win it for the hosts but missed completely, leaving Zapolski the hero as he stopped Dave Spina's effort for TPS.
Dufva summarized, “In the overtime we had numerous chances but we were not given a goal there neither. And the shootout . . . When you have five shooters and it ends 1–0, everyone knows it’s pretty much down to luck at that point. Great series against TPS.”
“Congrats to Risto and Lukko for the spot in the semi-finals. Being in the final four is a big accomplishment and that was our goal as well. We worked hard tonight,” said Selin. About the team's CHL experience, he said, “Our strength, especially in the CHL, is that we never give in and never give up. For the 10 CHL games this season we didn’t lose a single game in regulation. Great experiences overall and we’ll learn from these games. Even though the game was decided in shootout, the better team won tonight.”
A hard fought victory for Lukko Rauma, who advance to the semi-finals after having fallen at the last eight stage last season.
GOALS:
2nd 35:52 - 1:0 (EQ) - Ville Vahalahti (Toni Koivisto, Turo Asplund)
3rd 55:36 - 1:1 (EQ) - Harri Tikkanen- PS - 2:1 (GWG) - Turo Asplund