Red Bull Salzburg faced off against Färjestad Karlstad in their first-ever encounter in the Champions Hockey League, as the two teams battled it out in their Quarter-Finals First Game. Both teams came into the game in top form and full of energy, having cruised through the earlier stages of the Playoffs with relative ease. The game proved to be very competitive, ending in a hard-fought victory for Salzburg.

The opening period was a closely contested affair, with plenty of chances at both ends of the ice. Salzburg broke the deadlock at 16:29 when Ryan Murphy capitalised on an opportunity at the right circle, firing the puck to the far post.

However, their lead was short-lived. Just 33 seconds later, Marian Studenič equalised for Färjestad with a brilliant backhand shot under the crossbar, levelling the game at 1-1. No more goals followed and the first 20 minutes concluded with the score locked.

The second period saw Salzburg take control of the game once again. Nash Nienhuis delivered the go-ahead goal at 28:24, pouncing on a turnover to score while short-handed.

Färjestad thought they had levelled the score in the 34th minute, but their goal was disallowed due to a call for a foul that occurred just before the goal was scored, resulting in a penalty being awarded. Salzburg lit the lamp on the powerplay that followed, extending their lead to 3-1 by the end of the period.

The final frame was an emotional and physical battle, with both teams ramping up the intensity. A series of roughing calls and even an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty reflected the rising tensions. Despite their efforts, neither team managed to add to the scoreboard in the third period.

As the final buzzer sounded, Salzburg secured a 3-1 victory, earning a crucial two-goal cushion heading into the Return Game in Sweden in two weeks' time.