Leading scorer Scott Pooley and Vili Saarijärvi both enjoyed multi-point nights as Lukko Rauma take a 3-1 lead back to Finland after an impressive away performance against HC Bolzano. 

Any plans Bolzano might have had on capitalising on their home advantage were scuppered as Lukko assumed control in the opening period and never looked back.

The visitors silenced the home crowd just after the five minute mark when Pooley fired a low shot from the blueline through a crowd of bodies. Justin Fazio had little chance to react in the Bolzano net, and minutes later he was beaten again - this time, Saarijärvi slotting in a rebound for the Finns, as Pooley claimed his tenth point of the campaign from the assist. 

The game appeared to be slipping away from Bolzano until their offence finally sparked into life midway through the second frame to get them on the scoreboard. Lukko were punished for failing to clear their zone and pressured as Bolzano’s top-line went to work in front of the net with Michael Halmo eventually scrambling the puck in.

Line-mate Dustin Gazley could’ve grabbed a second for Bolzano when he found himself one-on-one with Lassi Lehtinen, but was denied by a big glove save. That miss would prove costly later in the period as Lukko restored their two-goal advantage. 

Lukko’s Saarijärvi claimed his second point of the night as Fazio struggled to contain his slap-shot allowing Anrei Hakulinen to shoot into an open net.  

The 3-1 lead remained intact for the duration of the final period with Bolznao unable to find a way through Lukko’s solid defence. A late powerplay opportunity proved to be fruitless for the Italian team, leaving Bolzano with a sizeable task in front of them heading into next week’s return leg.