Trailing 2-1 in the second period, Jukurit Mikkeli scored four straight goals to open up a big lead on the road, ultimately beating Sparta Prague 6-3 in the final Group A game for each team. As a result, Jukurit finish second in the group and Sparta finish last.

The two teams exchanged goals late in an evenly-played first period. Ostap Safin opened the scoring for Sparta, putting a nice redirect on a relay pass by Gustaf Thorell at 16:39. But Jukurit tied it on the powerplay with under two minutes to play in the period, with Joni Jurmo sending a low point shot through traffic and past a screened Josef Kořenář.

Sparta started the second period strong and through pressure were able to draw two penalties 54 seconds apart, and they were able to turn that into the go-ahead goal. On the 5-on-3, David Tomášek perfectly teed up a one-timer from Adam Polášek, who beat Frans Tuohimaa blocker-side just inside the post.

But again, it didn’t take long for Jukurit to answer. On a 2-on-2 into the Sparta zone just over two minutes later, Johan Harju sent a backhand pass out front to Pekka Jormakka, who converted on his backhand and it was 2-2.

And then Safin, who had opened the scoring, put his team in a big hole by taking a match penalty for a high hit on Nikita Krivokrasov. Jukurit would score twice on the five-minute advantage. First it was Daniel Mäkiaho, who was set up in close and had his stick checked as he was trying to shoot, which fooled Kořenář and the puck went through the Sparta goalie’s legs to give Jukurit their first lead at 29:36. Still on the powerplay 1:08 later, Hannes Häkkilä made it 4-2 with a shot from the right wing.

Michal Kovařčík late in the second period and then Otto Mäkinen just 14 seconds into the third widened Jukurit’s lead to 6-2. David Tomášek got one back for Sparta with 14 minutes to play, but despite getting three more powerplays, the home team could come no closer in their last Champions Hockey League game of the season. Jukurit, on the other hand, will move onto the Round of 16.