Marc Kämpf’s sharp-angle shot with 3:42 to play was the difference, breaking a 1-1 tie to give SC Bern an opening-night win in one of the toughest places in Europe to do so –  Växjö.

The two teams traded powerplay goals in the first period – first Joel Persson with a high wrister from the high slot for Växjö, and then Thomas Rüfenacht on a one-time slapper off a set-up by Andrew Ebbett. There was no scoring in the second period, but Brendan Shinnimin had a golden chance to give the Lakers the lead, backhanding a shot high with an empty net in front of him.

Kämpf’s innocent-looking shot from close to the goal line somehow found some room between Vitkor Fasth's pad and the near-side post. After that, the Lakers got a chance on the powerplay and then later pulled Fasth for a sixth attacker, but to no avail.