The home side threw a spanner in the works for the visitors, who had to fight for their three points.

Two goals in the first period by Rouen, including a wrister by Nicolas Ritz after four minutes, left them in an unfamiliar position against the visitors, who responded with one of their own only 30 seconds after conceding the second. It took 12 minutes in the following period for Kärpät to overturn the deficit, including a powerplay goal which was assisted by Michal Krištof, to register his sixth point of the tournament.

Nicklas Lasu scored his second of the game with an empty net goal to squash any hope left for the defiant French side, who had nothing to lose with two minutes left on the clock. The hosts will rue the chances they missed in the final period, one being a breakaway chance for Alexander Aleardi who felt his was impeded. The result doesn’t do much to disrupt the order in Group F other than projecting Kärpät closer to progressing in pole position.