Sparta Prague and Karpat Oulu skated to a 1-1 tie in Prague, setting up a winner-take-all game next Tuesday in Oulu. Read more in Gamecentre. 

Last year Sparta Prague had a two-goal aggregate lead after the first game on home ice, but still lost to Karpat Oulu after 120 minutes had been played. This time, their task is more difficult after the same two teams skated to a 1-1 tie at O2 Arena. 

“The result was even and I think the whole game was even,” said Karpat coach Kai Suikkainen. “We came here to fight and get something from this building, because it's not an easy place to play, but we had a good fighting spirit and played a good game.”

Sparta had the best chances to score in the first period, thanks to three straight power plays and a 5-on-3 advantage for 57 seconds at one point. However, Karpat's penalty killing was steady, as was Sami Aittokallio in goal. Overall, the CHL's all-time shutout leader stopped 30 of 31 shots. At the other end, Sparta's Tomas Popperle stopped 20 of 21. 

Karpat opened the scoring in the middle of an evenly-played second period on some rather shoddy defensive-zone coverage from Sparta. Miska Humaloja won a battle for the puck behind the net, then skated unopposed to the front of the net and backhanded it past Popperle – the only time the Sparta goalie was beaten on the night.

Facing the unattractive prospect of going to northern Finland next week with a deficit to make up, Sparta poured on the pressure in the third period period and they tied it in the 47th minute. Juraj Mikus's shot from the point through traffic was stopped by Aittokallio, but Brian Ihnacak was there for the rebound. 

Then less than two minutes later they went to the power play when Jani Hakanpaa was called for checking to the head, and very nearly took the lead. The puck was put into the net with 10:51 to play, but after consulting with the video goal judge, goaltender interference was the verdict, and so the score remains even after 60 minutes of play. 

“After the last game in Brno, where we allowed six goals against, we can be slightly satisfied,” acknowledged Sparta assistant coach Jiri Veber. “We worked on our defence a lot. Although Karpat scored once, at least it wasn’t a high number. So it’s good, positive. We watched a video of their last game in the Finnish Liiga, so we knew what to expect, and they played exactly like that. Strong defensively, sometimes without any fore-checking, defending well in the neutral zone. And we were ready for that.”

“Of course, they had a good third period when they were pushing for the equalizer, but that's what happens when one team is coming from behind,” Suikkainen continued. “Whoever wins the next game now will go forward.”