First ET loss for HV71

On the paper it was an easy hurdle to overcome for so far unbeaten HV71 from Sweden, but in the end bottom club KalPa from Finland was too strong for the guests. After 10:29 Oscar Sundh earned the lead for HV71 but late in the third period the game was turned around by KalPa through Marko Kauppinen and Artturi Lehkonen before William Karlsson tied the match again at 56:11. When the shootout had to decide it was again Lehkonen who kept the extra point in Kuopio. For HV71 this loss will not mean too much as they are already qualified for Red Bull Salute as clear leaders of South Division.

Swedish side Färjestads BK gained very important three points in their race for the Red Bull Salute qualification by beating HIFK from Helsinki away 4-0. The hosts had some starting problems but before they could find into the game FBK decided everything in less than three minutes in the middle of the second period when Magnus Nygren (2) and Marcus Paulsson added three quick goals into the HIFK net. In the last 20 minutes Christian Berglund even put the 0-4 on top of a great performance of the Swedes. Alexander Salak who earned a shutout received two European Star Award points while three went to Magnus Nygren who pathed the way for the away win. Chris Lee received one point for his two assists. FBK and EV Zug from Switzerland now are the leaders in West Division with 14 points each.

For Tappara the away match in Stockholm against Djurgårdens IF was a must win game. Thanks to an amazing middle period they now are leaders in East Division with 16 points ahead of Brynäs IF (14 points). A first-period lead for DIF scored by Erik Gustafsson was turned around early in the second period by Juha Leimu with two goals within 29 seconds. Although Christian Eklund scored the equalizer for the hosts, Teemu Alto and Sami Venäläinen extended the lead even to two before the second intermission. When Henrik Eriksson got the tension back to the game at 50:04 the hope didn't last very long as Jerry Ahtola found the answer for the final result of 3-5 just nine seconds later.

 

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