Clubs exchanged goals within the first five minutes of this Champions Hockey League Quarter-Finals series between Brynäs IF and KalPa Kuopio, but a dominant performance by the Swedish side further in the game gave them a three-goal cushion, which they would eventually extend to four as they head to Finland with a four-goal aggregate advantage.

The Swedes narrowly escaped elimination in the Round of 16, securing a 6-5 aggregate win over SC Bern, but any uncertainty they had about going up against one of the league's best all-around clubs was put to rest as Brynäs would go on to score five unanswered goals through the remaining 40 minutes of the game and were in perfect form. 

Axel Jonsson-Fjällby found the equaliser a few minutes later after KalPa's Andreas Okany scored just 25 seconds into the contest, and Collin Delia was lights out for a Swedish team that continues to be one of the stingiest defences in the competition, only allowing an average 1.78 Goals Against.

With a desperate and more-than-capable club in KalPa ready for redemption on home ice, Brynäs will have to find ways to weather the storm. Maintaining that same excellent netminding that has helped them all season will go far in this respect.

KalPa weren't up to their usual 7-1-1 selves in the First Game. As long as their offence can stay dialled in, though, look for their second-ranked offence (3.67 Goals For/game) to help them bounce back. 

Led by Cade Borchardt (3G, 7A), their forward corps. is comprised of several skaters who know how to find the net. Should this continue to be the case in the Return Game, KalPa certainly have a shot at reclaiming their identity and with it the chance to advance into the Semi-Finals, but the Swedes are well in the driver's seat and with a very comfortable cushion to play with.