It’s all to play for next week in Zug, as despite away side EV Zug’s dominant start to the match, Tappara Tampere’s second period comeback was enough to tie the series 3-3 and give both teams of hope of going further.

Zug started on the offensive and played high up the ice right in front of the Tappara net. They peppered the goal with shot after shot and, just minutes into the game, Dario Simion glided the puck through goalie Christian Heljanko’s legs to break the deadlock on the night. Zug went on to further increase the pressure and were able to double their lead thanks to Santeri Alatalo’s powerful shot from the blue line that sailed straight into the top left-hand corner of Tappara’s net four minutes later.

Tappara’s shaken goaltender Christian Heljanko was called to the bench after conceding two quick goals and was replaced by Michael Garteig for the remainder of the match. Despite Zug being the stronger side, Tappara were able to keep their heads in the game and withstood Zug’s attacks right up to the end of the first period to end the first period only two goals down.

Tappara stepped back onto the ice a different team and were determined to get themselves back into the game. Thanks to Yannick Zehnder’s high-sticking penalty they had a powerplay to do so. One minute later, Valtteri Kemiläinen reduced the goal difference down to a single goal and opened Tappara’s scoring sheet on the night. He was followed by Jere Karjalainen six minutes later and by Olavi Vauhkonen just seconds before the end of the second period and in a surprising turn of events, it was Tappara who exited for the locker rooms ahead.

Zug weren’t prepared to let the game slip from their hands, however, and a superb solo goal from Gregory Hofmann got them back into contention. Two minutes into the final period he came face to face with goalie Michael Garteig after winning the puck deep in Tappara’s third due to a defensive error from one of Tappara’s defencemen. With a few swift stick moves, he comfortably got the puck around the goalie to tie the game 3-3. Despite both teams pushing for the winning goal, the score stayed level right up to the final buzzer leaving the return game in Zug to determine who will go through to the Quarter-Finals.