Ilves Tampere didn’t look like newcomers in their first-ever CHL match against Fribourg-Gottéron. While the Finns fell behind early, they managed to keep the contest close, frustrating Fribourg’s chances and creating some of their own. Janne Kuokkanen scored for the home side in the opening minutes on the powerplay, but Ilves continued to pester their hosts and eventually their persistence was rewarded.

48 seconds into the middle stanza Tommi Tikka secured the first of his two tallies on the night to level the score and give the Finns some life. Kuokkanen would score again to give Fribourg the lead, but Tikka’s equaliser wasn’t far behind. Less than a minute later, the Ilves forward netted his second and, despite trailing twice, the Finns were again on an even playing field.

After 50 minutes of play, the score was still tied with neither side giving the other an inch. Unfortunately for the visitors, though, a Matthias Rossi goal with nine minutes to go would be their undoing. Ilves shot at their first CHL victory will now come against an Austrian club that secured their first win in an OT thriller.

Salzburg had their hands full with Norwegian champions Stavanger Oilers. From the get-go, it appeared the Austrians had everything under control, outplaying and outshooting their opponents through the first 40 minutes. But a surprise turnaround kickstarted by Stavanger’s Bryce Gervais was a wrench in an otherwise efficient machine.

The hosts re-took the lead minutes later when Peter Schneider notched his first of the season and second point of the night, but the Norwegians wouldn’t go away – scoring the equaliser on the powerplay. It would take a dramatic extra session, and a beautiful backhand from Florian Baltram, for them to skate away with their first win of the season.

Going up against Ilves, Salzburg will have to maintain their possession play which saw them fire 44 shots on net in their first outing.