Lukko Rauma opened their Quarter-Finals series against EV Zug at the Kivikylän Areena in Finland. Although it was the first time these two clubs met in the Champions Hockey League, both sides understood they needed a strong First Game performance before travelling to Switzerland for the Return Game clash.

The opening ten minutes saw the play flow from end to end, with both teams generating dangerous opportunities. In the 14th minute, the hosts earned a powerplay after a tripping call. They did not score on the man advantage, but the pressure they built continued throughout the remainder of the period.

One minute before the break, that pressure finally paid off. Aarne Intonen fired from between the circles, and although Leonardo Genoni made the initial save, a Zug defenceman inadvertently steered the rebound toward his own goal. Anton Olsson reacted quickest and tapped the puck into the open net, giving Rauma a deserved 1-0 lead.

The second period belonged entirely to the Finnish side. Lukko extended their lead at 26:19 following another long spell of sustained offensive pressure. Ponthus Westerholm carried the puck into the slot and cleverly left it for Aarne Intonen, who fired a pinpoint shot into the top-right corner, leaving Genoni without a chance. Rauma continued to dictate the pace and control possession, while Zug produced only a handful of opportunities, all of which Antti Raanta handled confidently.

The third period brought goals almost immediately. Zug pulled one back at 40:39 when Mike Künzle capitalised on a powerplay rebound after Dominik Kubalík’s shot. However, any hope of a comeback was short-lived. At 42:53, Ponthus Westerholm struck at the other end, restoring Lukko’s two-goal cushion and securing a strong position for the Return Game in Switzerland.