Two top teams collided in this Playoff derby between ZSC Lions Zurich and KalPa Kuopio, with each showcasing their strengths on both sides of the puck as they enter next week's Return Game on a level playing field.

Zurich cashed in on their first man-advantage of the night when Willy Riedi rifled a one-timer into the net to give the Swiss the lead. Mikko Lehtonen played quarterback at the top of the diamond as he wheeled around and slid a slid a soft feed to Riedi, who did the rest.

KalPa responded one minute later and then took the lead soon after with two goals in quick succession. Andreas Okany secured his second of the tournament when he forced his way inside the blue paint to put it past Šimon Hrubec. Tuukka Korkiakoski then made it 2-1 on a spin-around shot at 11:51. The 20-year-old received a pass inside the hashmarks as he fought off a defender and lasered it home to give his side their first lead.

The Swiss picked up the pace in the second, scoring two in the span of two minutes to reclaim the lead.

First up was Andy Andreoff, who blasted one from the blue line through traffic past an unsuspecting Stefanos Lekkas. Denis Malgin quickly followed suit, securing his second tally of the tournament when the veteran forward stayed with the play and pounced on a loose puck as he put it through the pads of Lekkas from just above the top of the crease. 

KalPa would eventually make it 3-3 off a stunning solo goal from Aleksi Klemetti on the powerplay. The 26-year-old concluded a brilliant individual effort as he skated coast-to-coast and beat several defenders before sliding the puck to his backhand and then between the pads of Hrubec to produce a highlight-reel goal that leveled things for a third time on the night.

The Finns then made it a 4-3 contest when Okany registered his second at 52:19. But then things got interesting later in the period when Sven Andrighetto potted the equaliser on the powerplay. This would be the final tally of the match-up as both teams head to Finland tied 4-4 on aggregate.