The 2026/27 Champions Hockey League Playoffs continued as Czech challengers Dynamo Pardubice managed to create and hold on to a one-goal aggregate advantage in the First Game of this Round of 16 series with SaiPa Lappeenranta with a 3-2 decision. 

Tomáš Nosek got things going with a powerplay tally at 6:46 in the first period when he one-timed it in close to give the Czechs the early lead. Jáchym Kondelík slid the cross-crease feed to Nosek who buried it from just above the top of the crease to claim his third of the season.

The Finns then responded moments later with two of their own. Nicholas Zabaneh provided a brilliant outlet pass through the neutral zone to Miikka Salomäki who skated in alone and wristed it high stick side past Roman Will. Then Juuso Heikkilä converted on a catch-and-release down low with Einar Emanuelsson - Heikkilä passed it to Emanuelsson who slid it back as the forward deposited it into the net for the Finns' second of the night.

Second period play got underway and the Czechs eventually found the equaliser eight minutes into the middle stanza. Matěj Stránský collected his own rebound after Kari Piiroinen made the intital save and fired it in far side to level things at 2-2. The period continued with both teams enjoying some time on the man-advantage, but neither club was able to convert and so the score stayed tied heading into the third.

Both squads were able to generate some chances as the final frame got going, but it was Pardubice cashing in with the go-ahead goal at 44:05 thanks to Miguël Tourigny who shot one through bodies that found its way in. The forward skated to the top of the slot before letting it go as the puck made its way past an out-of-position Piiroinen.

That would be it as SaiPa, despite their best effort, were unable to solve the Czech netminder a third time leaving the Czechs with a slight advantage heading into next week's fixture.