KalPa Kuopio never led in the game, but Patrick Curry’s beautiful overtime goal was the difference in their opening come-from-behind victory over the Belfast Giants.

The game began at a frenetic pace, with the teams trading goals in the first four minutes.

Patrick Grosso struck for Belfast less than a minute in, sending a shot from almost the corner that banked in off goaltender Patrik Kerkola. Less than three minutes later, it was tied when Saku Salmela sent a backhand pass across to Jaakko Rissanen, who one-timed the puck in.

After that, the pace of the game settled down. Each team had a powerplay in the opening period but neither was able to convert.

In the 25th minute, David Goodwin got in behind the KalPa defence but was cut down by a Teemu Hartikainen slash. While shorthanded, KalPa were called for too many players on the ice, resulting in a brief 5-on-3 for Belfast. Still up by one man, Ryan Smith put the Giants ahead 2-1 when he scored on a rebound after Nicolas Guay’s initial shot.

KalPa went to the powerplay late in the middle frame and attacked furiously for the equaliser. They thought they had it just before the period expired when Jaakko Lantta forced home a loose puck following a mad scramble. However, after a lengthy video review, the goal was called back.

As time ticked away, KalPa turned up the heat, but Alexis Gravel and the Giants defenders managed to keep the puck out until the final two minutes, with Kerkola on the bench for an extra attacker. With 1:03 to play, Juuso Mäenpää swept in a rebound to tie the score and force overtime, setting the stage for Curry’s heroics.

On a 2-on-1 rush, Cade Borchardt passed to Curry, who moved to his backhand and slid the puck through Gravel’s pads.