- Lugano score with 47 seconds remaining to force overtime
- Tappara keep win streak alive with an overtime win
- Brady Austin scores the overtime winner on the powerplay
Tappara Tampere have enjoyed a fantastic start to the new Champions Hockey League season, and as they hosted HC Lugano they had a chance to extend their winning streak against their Swiss opponents, who they defeated 6-3 in the first meeting between the two sides.
It was a fast rush up ice that would result in the game’s first score. Samuel Salonen brought the puck up ice with speed setting up an odd man rush, and he played it back to Casimir Jürgens whose quick shot was too hard for Niklas Schlegel to contend with, giving Tappara they first period lead.
Tappara doubled their advantage in the second period, leaving it late on a powerplay. With just one second left on the man advantage, some quick puck movement made its way out in front to Lassi Vanhatalo who fired a quick snapshot into the net to make it 2-0 to the hosts.
It could have been a three goal lead shortly after, but Jukka Peltola couldn't convert on a penalty shot midway through the period. That kept Lugano within striking distance and towards the end of the period, a late strike by Elia Riva in the final minute of the second halved the deficit, sending the two teams into the third period with just one goal separating them.
Neither team could find an extra goal in the third period, and with time ticking away one side needed a hero. After making himself the hat trick hero on Friday, Luca Fazzini once again stepped up to deliver when Lugano needed it, with his effort from in tight finding the back of the net, tying the game at two a piece with just 47 seconds remaining to force overtime.
After giving up a late goal, Tappara had to make it up in the extra session, and they were given a lifeline as they found themselves on the powerplay midway through the additional five minutes.
As they moved the puck around, Brady Austin ripped a shot from the point, through traffic which lit the lamp for the game winner as Tappara move even closer to the knockout rounds with a fourth straight win, while Lugano pick up a point to keep them in second place of Group E for now.