HK Nitra took a 3-2 overtime decision at SaiPa Lappeenranta, twice holding a lead in regulation before settling it in the extra period. The visitors won each of the first and fourth frames 1-0 and never trailed all night.
Brett Pollock opened it at 18 off a feed from Elias Carmichael, and SaiPa answered inside the first minute of the second when Mikko Perttu scored at 21, assisted by Miro Tauslahti. Hugo Kovac restored the edge at 30 with Filip Bajtek assisting, and the turning point came at 51, when Brian Kramer, set up by Petrus Palmu, tied it 2-2 and forced overtime.
The period splits tell it: Nitra 1-1-0 in regulation plus the lone overtime goal, SaiPa 0-1-1. Kovac's go-ahead marker at 30 was the only goal that held up as a lead through a full period, and the hosts' 2-2 equalizer at 51 bought them a point's worth of hockey but no more.