- Robin Kovacs double for Luleå helped them to a 2-1 victory in the first leg
- Lausanne score an early shorthanded goal through Joel Vermin
- Youngster Noel Gunler scores twice as Luleå advance
A double from Robin Kovacs was the difference last week, giving Luleå Hockey a 2-1 advantage heading into the second leg against Lausanne HC, setting up a close contest with a place in the Semi-Finals at stake in the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League.
It looked like the former champions were going to extend that lead early in the second leg with an early powerplay chance, but a short handed goal from Joel Vermin just over three minutes into the game tied things up on aggregate with Lausanne opening the scoring thanks to Josh Jooris outmuscling his opponent to reach the puck first, playing it across for Vermin who beat the goalie for the first goal. That goal was quickly cancelled out though, shortly after giving up a goal despite the man advantage, Luleå made it count less than 60 seconds later through Isac Brännström deflected the puck right in the slot over the shoulder of Tobias Stephan to tie things up.
Lausanne enjoyed some impressive spells throughout the first and looked like they may be about to add another, but a poor pass was picked off by youngster Noel Gunler, who went all the way down to the ice, just beating Stephan as the puck trickled across the line for Luleå’s second of the night, and Gunler’s third goal of the competition.
Neither side could find another through the second period as both David Rautio of Luleå and Tobias Stephan of Lausanne standing tall in their creases, meaning there Luleå held a two-goal advantage overall with 20 minutes of regulation remaining.
It didn't take long for Luleå to extend their lead, with an early powerplay chance, a pass from Jack Connolly to Nils Lundkvist set up Noel Gunler all alone in front of net to tap the puck into the back of the net, making it 3-1 on the night, and 5-2 on aggregate giving Lausanne a mountain to climb with time winding down. As Lausanne struggled to find the back of the net, they pulled the goalie with eight minutes left in the third period in an attempt to claw their way back into the game, but Luleå held strong to deny the visitors with an extra man and with just under seven minutes remaining, Daniel Sondell sent the puck 200 foot down the ice, into the empty net to make it 4-1. Down but not out, Lausanne managed to pull one back late in the game, as a slapshot from Cody Almond knuckled on it's way towards net with just over two minutes remaining, beating Rautio, but it was too little too late as Luleå added a second empty netter just before the final buzzer sounded to secure a 5-2 victory and a 7-3 win on aggregate, marking the end of the road for Lausanne HC who exit after an impressive debut season, and for Luleå their journey to the final continues with their eyes on making the final to try and claim their second CHL title.