Linus Johansson scored the game-winning goal at 64:15 in OT to help propel Färjestad Karlstad 4-3 over Ilves Tampere and straight into the Champions Hockey League Playoffs. Maxime Lagacé made 17 saves as the Swedes dealt the home side their first loss of the season.

The hosts opened the scoring six minutes in with Les Lancaster securing his second assist and seventh point of the competition after shoveling the puck to Oula Palve who swatted it past Lagacé to make it 1-0.

Färjestad found the equaliser late in the period when 18-year-old Elliot Ståhlberg registered his first of the Regular Season with a little over a minute to play in the initial stanza. Jonathan Andersson delivered a quick pass up ice which found Ståhlberg in stride who slid one between the pads of Jakub Málek.

Second-period action picked up at the Nokia Arena near the midway mark of the middle frame with an impact play from David Tomášek following a turnover near Ilves' blueline. Tomášek retrieved the loose puck before dancing around a defenceman and sliding a pass to Patrik Lundh who wired it into the net near the bottom of the far circle to give Färjestad their first lead of the contest.

The Finns continued to apply pressure in the offensive zone in the late stages of the second and their tenacity was rewarded with a rebound goal off the stick of Eetu Päkkilä with just 29 ticks to go in the period. Lagacé stopped Samu Bau's initial shot attempt but a well-positioned Päkkilä pounced on the rolling puck and backhanded it into the cage to bring things even heading into the final frame.

In the third, it was Petr Kodýtek breaking the deadlock off the rush and giving his club their second lead of the night. Some elite passing began with Šimon Stránský skating down the near boards before feathering a cross-ice feed to Eemeli Suomi who slid it to Kodýtek in the slot where the forward guided it to the back of the net for his second of the competition.

But then a mad scramble in front of Ilves' net proved to be the difference maker as the Swedes netted their third of the night from Lucas Forsell to make it 3-3 with a little over two minutes to go in regulation. The goal would be challenged, but eventually stood as play continued.

With the clubs still tied after 60, OT was needed to decide the winner. Both sides traded chances during the extra session before Johansson got control of the puck and powered his way down the far boards with under a minute to go as he lifted one shortside to give his club their fourth victory of the 2023/24 campaign.