After playing to a 3-3 tie over 65 minutes of hockey, Brynäs IF outscored IFK Helsinki 3-1 in a penalty shootout to win the first CHL game played in Gävle. It was a strong effort from the home team, which outshot the visitors from the Finnish capital 33-22.
“We got one point, which isn’t bad but we were close to getting three. Brynäs pressured us the whole game, but Atte Engren was fantastic.”IFK Helsinki head coach Ari-Pekka Selin
IFK struck first on a goal by Patrick Carlson at 12:31, but Brynäs tied it and took the lead with two goals by Aaron Palushaj less than five minutes apart in the second period - one on the power play and one at even strength.
The game swung back the other way again in the third period - Carlsson made it 2-2 in the first minute with his second of the game, and then Henri Tamminen beautifully finished off a 2-on-1 rush with 10:32 left in regulation time, which looked like it might be the game winner before Kevin Clark tied it on a deflection with exactly one minute left in regulation time. Clark was also credited with the shootout winner.