In a match-up between two teams that lost on Game Day 1, the Lahti Pelicans defeated Genève-Servette 5-4 in a shootout, giving each team its first points of the season. Playing at home, the Pelicans never trailed, taking the lead three times and seeing the defending European champions tie it three times.

The teams traded first-period goals. The Pelicans struck first at 11:43. Leevi Tukiainen took the pass in the corner, carried it back up the boards to the top of the circle and let go a shot that beat the crowd of players in front of the net. Then with 1:11 left in the period, Genève tied it when Sakari Manninen circled the net and found Markus Granlund, who one-timed it in from the edge of the crease.

In the second period, the Pelicans opened up a two-goal lead. In the 25th minute, Luboš Horký fought off a couple of checks in the high slot and fired a shot through a crowd that found room just inside the far post.

Late in the middle frame, Genève had a great chance to tie it again when Miro Väänänen received a double-minor for high-sticking. However, late in the second minor it was the Pelicans scoring shorthanded, with Libor Zabranský finding room high inside the near-side post on a partial breakaway.

Genève got one goal back just 56 seconds later when Tim Berni made a long stretch pass to Granlund, who skated in alone and beat Olof Lindbom for his second of the game. Genève then tied it early in the third period when Tanner Richard’s pass from the corner found a wide-open Luca Hischier in front of the net. Hischier that went high glove side on Lindbom.

As the minutes ticked away it appeared that overtime was looming, but with just 2:02 remaining in regulation time, the Pelicans once again went in front. Jonas Enlund carried the puck deep into the Genève zone and centred in front to Michal Jordán, whose quick shot found the far low corner.

But the defending champs refused to die and pressed hard for the equalizer. With Gauthier Descloux on the bench for a sixth attacker, Teemu Hartikainen tied it with a brilliant move. Taking a pass in front of the net from Manninen, Hartikainen went through his legs and, standing right in front of the net, flipped it up and over Lindbom’s glove.

After a scoreless overtime period, the Pelicans won the shootout, getting goals from Tukiainen and Wyatt Kalynuk, while Lindbom denied all four Genève shooters he faced.