Ilves Tampere hosted Luleå Hockey for the Return Game of their Champions Hockey League Quarter-Finals series. After a tightly contested First Game in which Luleå ended the night with a slim one-goal lead, the series remained wide open, with everything to be decided on Finnish ice.

Ilves were the more active side in the opening period, outshooting the visitors 16-8 and earning two powerplay opportunities. However, the Finns were unable to convert either chance, although they carried the second man advantage into the start of the middle frame. Despite Ilves’ initiative, the scoreboard stayed unchanged, and after twenty minutes the aggregate score still favoured Luleå 3-2.

The second period followed a similar pattern, with Ilves continuing to push and generate more shots. The best chance of the frame, however, fell to the visitors. Brendan Shinnimin cut into the slot to receive a return pass from the left wing and fired a quick shot from a sharp angle toward the top corner. Dominik Pavlát came up big, getting his blocker on the puck and deflecting it up onto the crossbar to keep Ilves alive.

The decisive moments arrived in the third period. At 48:51, Luleå struck on the powerplay to extend their aggregate lead. Brian O’Neill controlled a dump-in from the blue line with his back to the net, spun quickly in front, and slipped the puck inside the right post. The goal gave the Swedes momentum, and they doubled down just minutes later at 52:21. Ilves struggled to respond, and an empty-net goal at 56:18 sealed the outcome.

When the final buzzer sounded, Luleå confirmed their place in the Semi-Finals, bringing Ilves’ Champions Hockey League campaign to an end.