On home ice, Färjestad Karlstad overcame a 3-1 second-period deficit and scored three straight goals, meaning they will have a one-goal lead over Mountfield HK when the two teams meet next week in Hradec Králové.

Färjestad opened the scoring at 2:29 on their first shot of the game when Joakim Nygård took a pass in full flight at centre ice, beat a Mountfield defenceman wide and then goaltender Jan Růžička between the legs.

Just over a minute later, Graeme McCormack evened it for Mountfield when he intercepted a clearing attempt at the blue line, skated in and fired a shot that just snuck through the pads of Matthew Tomkins and across the goal line. Lukáš Cingel was originally credited with the goal but replays showed he didn't touch the puck.

Mountfield started the second period strong and struck twice to take a 3-1 lead before Färjestad replied with two of their own to tie it back up.

It began in the 25th minute with a shoot-in from the centre by Martin Štohanzl, which hit Tomkin’s blocker and went over the Färjestad goalie’s shoulder and into the net. Then just past the game’s midpoint, Radek Smoleňák jumped on a loose puck in the corner and fed Zdeněk Doležal, who beat Tomkins with a wrister under the arm.

It looked like Mountfield might start to run away with the game, but Färjestad responded with a huge goal just 23 seconds later. Rushing into the Mountfield zone, Victor Ejdsell sent a backhand pass to top scorer Marcus Nilsson, who made a move to his backhand and beat Růžička over the glove. That turned the tide toward the home side, and they tied it less than three minutes later when Mattias Göransson’s shot from the point was tipped chest-high in front by Remi Elie and in.

Färjestad regained the lead on the powerplay with 15:42 to play when Joel Nyström’s wrister from the point floated through the crowd in front and past a screened Růžička.

Mountfield had another powerplay chance after that and had some looks but, like their first three opportunities, came up empty. Then Färjestad had a chance to widen their lead but were unable, meaning the one-goal difference will carry over into next week’s Return Game.