Tappara Tampere took a 2-1 decision in regulation at Vaxjo, turning a one-goal deficit into a win with a goal in each of the last two periods. Joachim Blichfeld's strike in the 42nd minute stood up as the winner.
The teams traded nothing through a scoreless opening period. Joel Persson opened it in the 24th minute, set up by Brogan Rafferty, before William Wia answered in the 35th off a feed from Aapeli Rasanen to make it 1-1 after two. Blichfeld's finish early in the third, assisted by Jesper Mattila, was the turning point.
The number that matters: Tappara scored twice on the road and held Vaxjo off the board across the first and third periods. Mattila and Rasanen each supplied an assist on the Finnish side; Rafferty had the lone helper for Vaxjo.
