Reigning CHL Champions Tappara Tampere came out of the gates flying at the Nokia Arena to take a commanding 6-0 win over visitors the Belfast Giants. The win in regular time gives the Finns three additional points, for a total of five into the Regular Season Standings, while Belfast will be forced to regroup and look for a better outcome in their next game. Carter Camper was Tappara's magic man with a tally of four points, including one goal and three assists.

It was a fast opening period, with both teams showing feistiness from the get-go, however, a tripping penalty from Charlie Curti would give the hosts first dibs at a powerplay. That advantage evaporated almost instantly on account of a slashing penalty called on Veli-Matti Savinainen.

With half the period down, Belfast would get a chance to road test their powerplay, but setting up wasn't coming easily, and a turnover on the blueline proved fatal. Forward Otto Somppi broke away, dished the puck laterally, and an ice-cold release in stride from Petteri Puhakka saw the puck in the back of the net, meanwhile, Sompii, who had collided with a Belfast defenceman, careered into netminder Tyler Beskorowany. A brief video review confirmed that despite the contact, the goal was good, giving the Finns a 1-0 lead.

Trailing by one goal, the game was still in contention for Belfast until a penalty in favour of Tappara saw the hosts extend their lead at 21:43. It was havoc in the crease, but American forward Nicholas Halloran found the puck on the goalie's doorstep, and chipped it high to collect his first goal of the night, making it 2-0. At 29:25 Tappara's Oiva Keskinen netted his first of the evening, a tip off a wristshot from Joni Tuulola.

With a three-goal deficit, and the game slipping away from the Giants, the Finns weren't slowing down. American forward Camper added to Tappara's tally with a wristshot goal on yet another powerplay to make it 4-0 before the end of the second stanza.

Tappara's lead was sustained in the third period thanks to an almost consistent a stream of penalties from the visitors, and the hosts made them pay. Two more powerplay goals would be awarded to Tappara, the first from Halloran, and the second from Nicholas Baptiste. A close range shot by Quinn Preston was one of Belfast's best chances of the period, but the quick hand of Tappara netminder Christian Heljanko had it gloved.  

The game would close 6-0 in favor of the hosts, giving Heljanko his first shutout of the season, cementing a dominant win, and a clear message in this competition that Tappara are in extremely sharp form.