Chances aplenty for both sides meant that this opening Champions Hockey League contest between the champions of Finland, Lukko Rauma, and Swiss side Lausanne HC would be a nail-biter. 37-year-old Tobias Stephan manned the net for Lausanne while Samuel Jukuri tended the crease for Lukko and both put on a show.

Despite low shots on goal totals in the opening period, the spotlight was on the netminders who managed to keep the score level over the first twenty minutes. The Finns had their chance to take the lead on a powerplay brought on by a tripping call against Lausanne’s Justin Krueger at 15:41. The man advantage, however, would do nothing for Lukko as the two sides finished the first knotted at 0-0.

The second period opened with another tripping penalty against Lausanne and another opportunity for Lukko to break on through to the other side. But again, the Swiss side failed to find the net. Errant passes would ensue from both clubs as neither was able to muster extensive time in the offensive zone.

All was not lost for Lukko, who dominated the faceoffs in the second stanza, as they were awarded a third powerplay when Lausanne were called for a too-many-men penalty 30:28 into the game. With this third opportunity, Lukko were composed on the man-advantage holding significant zone time and possessing the puck for long stretches. But Lausanne’s veteran goalie refused to let up until a mad scramble in the crease ended with Lukko’s Harri Kainulainen, posing a net-front presence, slotting the puck past a sprawling Stephan. Lausanne was down by one heading into the third period but managed to secure a powerplay to start the final frame as Lukko were called for their second penalty with Pavol Skalicky getting caught for interference.

A critical advantage to start the third meant that Lausanne had a chance to tie. But Jukuri continued his strong play and was rock solid, stamping out any hope Lausanne had of finding the net. With ten minutes to go in the game another loose puck in the Lausanne crease meant that Lukko had a chance to double their advantage, but they couldn’t cash in.

One minute later, however, Lukko’s Sebastian Repo found himself uncontested as he skated into the offensive zone and ripped one from the low slot beating Stephan cleanly at 51:22 to give Lukko some extra security heading into the closing minutes of the final frame.

Lausanne would not go away though, with less than five minutes to play, Joel Genazzi delivered a feed to a streaking Cory Emmerton who was rushing the net and managed to jab the puck past Jukuri.

In the closing seconds, in spectacular fashion, the Swiss side would pull off a comeback that will go down in CHL history. With the netminder pulled and an extra attacker on the ice, Lukas Frick scored with three seconds remaining to force the first overtime of the season. A thrilling finish to a tightly contested match meant that Lukko and Lausanne would be playing 3-on-3 hockey.

After each side traded chance after chance, it would be the club that came from behind that would seal the victory and steal the first match from Lukko.

With a little over three minutes played into the extra session, Lausanne’s young star, 25-year-old Jason Fuchs, found some open space and sniped one past Jukuri giving Lausanne their first win of the season and leaving Lukko with one point.

In a match that had been Lukko’s to lose, they fell short but can look forward to righting their wrongs as they prepare for Adler Mannheim on Saturday at 18:00 CEST.