JKH GKS Jastrzębie have finally recorded their first ever Champions Hockey League win, but it was not without a scare as a routine victory almost slipped out of their grasp.

Jastrzębie, dominant through the opening two periods, saw an unlikely late push from Frisk Asker to get themselves back in the game that culminated in a tense finish. 

Heading into the game bottom of Group H with a 0-4 record, two goals in the space of 51 seconds helped settle Jastrzębie, with their first coming from an unlikely source. 

Prior to tonight, Jastrzębie had failed to convert any of their previous nine powerplay opportunities but that barren run ended following an Asker holding call, when Martin Kasperlik had time to pick his spot and shoot for the go-ahead goal. 

Jastrzębie then wasted no time in adding a second with Radek Nalewajka scoring his first CHL goal of the season just moments later. A behind the net scramble saw the puck come loose out in front of the net and Nalewajka was quickest to react, firing in short-side from a narrow angle.

Having outshot Asker 19-3 in the first period, Jastrzębie continued to assert their dominance and the visitors found themselves trailing by three goals after just 32 seconds. Maciej Urbanowicz cut across the crease to send a backhand shot towards goal that took a deflection off the stick of Frenks Razgals. 

The third goal set the tone of the second period with Asker rarely troubling Jastrzębie who continued to generate chances and with visiting goalie Henrik Fayen Vestavik enduring a busy night in net. 

Vestavik’s resilience proved to be the unexpected spark for an unexpected momentum swing in Asker’s favour.

Asker’s offence finally clicked into gear when Mikkel Seiergren Christiansen swept in Jimi Kuronen’s pass across before Esbjørn Fogstad Vold’s powerplay marker threatened to turn the game on its head. 

Egils Kalns thought he had settled things for Jastrzębie by restoring their two-goal margin after Roman Rac skated around the net to send the puck out in front. 

Asker were still not done yet however and with 1:47 remaining, a bomb of a shot from Niklas Nevalainen on a late powerplay made it a one-goal game once again. 

Asker then had one final foray as they pulled their goalie for the time remaining but Jastrzębie held on to claim maximum points.