After two home losses, the Rouen Dragons were in desperate need of a win heading to northern Sweden, but they faced stiff odds. However, the French champions pulled off the upset, defeating Skellefteå AIK 1-0. It is the second straight regulation loss for Skellefteå who have only three points after three home games and must play the rest of the Regular Season on the road.

After allowing a CHL-high 13 goals in their first two games, the Dragons played an impressive defensive game. Goaltender Matija Pintarič was on point in net, particularly in the third period when he was under constant fire, and his team outshot 14-3 over the final 20 minutes. This is the third career CHL shutout for the Slovenian netminder.

The lone goal came just shy of the first period’s midpoint. Francis Perron, who entered the game with three points in two games to lead the Dragons, picked off a careless pass in the Skellefteå zone and had time to pick his spot, firing a shot just over David Rautio’s blocker and inside the far post.

Through two periods, Skellefteå appeared snakebitten, generating very little in the way of offence. However, in the third period, the rink started to tilt in the home team’s favour and over the first 13 minutes of the final frame, Skellefteå outshot the Dragons 7-0.

With 5:59 to play, Anthony Rech was called for tripping. Rouen killed that off, but then took a too-many-players-on-the-ice bench-minor with 3:05 to go. Again, Skellefteå came up empty, even when up 6-on-4 after pulling Rautio for an extra attacker.

In the dying seconds, the puck was cleared out of the zone and Pintarič threw his hands in the air, then mobbed by his teammates.