After 65 minutes of game time and a shootout, Lausanne HC were finally able to overcome Group D rivals the Lahti Pelicans and secure two points to stay top of Group D.

It took both teams 17 minutes to break the deadlock, but thanks to Taavi Vartiainen’s nicely placed shot, it ended up being the Pelicans who got the lead despite offering Lausanne a chance to score from a powerplay awarded for Pavel Vorobey’s hooking penalty earlier. Lahti had more shots on goal throughout the first period and rightly deserved the one goal lead they kept until leaving the ice for the dressing rooms after 20 minutes of the game played.

Both teams returned to the ice eager to score and just two minutes into the second period, Lausanne were offered a powerplay for Santtu Kinnunen’s interference penalty. Lahti succsefully defended the penalty, but just seconds after it ended, Lausanne’s Yannick Herren scored his side’s first on the night to tie the score at 1-1. The Pelicans weren’t prepared to just sit around and gained back their lead thanks to Juhamatti Aaltonen solo goal. They enjoyed two powerplays awarded for Lukas Frick’s holding penalty and Cody Almond’s roughing penalty before the end of the period, but the second period ended with the score sitting at 2-1 for the away team.

Lausanne had two powerplays at the start of the third period and nine minutes in Cory Emmerton got Lausanne back into the game with his score-tying goal that sailed into the back of the net. With both teams realising the importance of securing as many points as possible from the game, both teams pushed players forward and tried to gain that all important goal to decide the game. With five minutes to go, Lausanne striked for the third time on the night. This time Josh Jooris found the back of the net after a rebound shot bounced right onto his stick. Lahti launched a late offensive and were eager to win back their lead. Two minutes before the final whistle they gained a powerplay and with goalie Atte Tolvanen out of the net, Lahti had a two-man advantage on the ice. With just 21 seconds remaining, Lahti’s Jesse Mankinen tied the game at 3-3. Even after a video review the goal stood and both teams geared up for OT and five minutes later a penalty shootout. Sadly though, the Pelicans were unable to get neither of their four shots past Lausanne’s Tobias Stephan and Lausanne’s two penalty shootout goals were enough to seal the deal and win them the extra point.