Leksands IF and Slovan Bratislava served up an entertaining Friday night affair as both sides made their debuts in the Champions Hockey League.

After good early pressure from the hosts, it was in fact the visitors who went into a somewhat surprise lead - Andrej Golian's stretch pass found Rastislav Gašpar who calmly slotted home on the breakaway with just over five minutes played.

Things got better for Slovan with 9:44 on the clock as Adam Bezák poked home a loose puck to put them two ahead, a lead they held into the first intermission.

Leksands IF came out the stronger of the two sides for period two, and their pressure paid off when Oskar Lang found the net from close range. The home side could have been level but for an incredible save from Kristers Gudlevskis in the Slovan net, blocking the puck on the goal line – a save upheld after video review.

However, Leksand were level just after the midway point of the period thanks to a wrist shot from the experienced Jonas Ahnelöv. Slovan were undeterred though and went back ahead when another stretch pass through the gap caught the home side out, and Jakub Sukeľ was on hand to finish off.

The period ended on a somewhat sour note with Lian Bichsel being ejected from the game for a check to the head.

Leksand's pressure for an equaliser forced two Slovan penalties late in the game, including a 22-second 5-on-3 opportunity which ultimately broke the Slovak side's resistance. Good puck movement set up Justin Kloos for a blast from the slot which flew into the net. 

Slovan survived another 90 seconds of Leksand powerplay time to head into the final three minutes all square, despite growing pressure from the home side. However, a poor chip out from Patrik Maier went over the glass and put the visitors shorthanded again, and Leksand needed only a few seconds to make the advantage count - Mikael Ruohomaa with the go-ahead goal with 1:53 left on the clock, his side's first lead of the night.

Ruohomaa then sealed the deal on the empty net with 44 seconds remaining.