Kivikylän Areena was the battleground for the Champions Hockey League Quarter-Finals Return Game which would see Lukko Rauma bested by the Czechs 3-2, but secure the vital 8-7 win on aggregate over Dynamo Pardubice. The win for Lukko means their Playoffs journey will continue, while it's the end of the road for the Czechs.

Tarmo Reunanen continues his stellar season having set up both plays that would see Harri Kainulainen net two goals. Netminder Samuel Harvey made 39 huge saves to cement the win and secure the all-important ticket into the Semi-Finals. 

Lukko entered the game with a two-goal lead on aggregate, but it would ultimately be a scoreless affair for the first period. Pardubice had a great early powerplay chance after Ponthus Westerholm was called for holding the stick, but Harvey, who had played a duo of games to date, was solid stopping everything directed his way.  

The Finns would get their own two minutes of man-advantage play on account of a cross-checking call on Jan Košťálek but had no luck on Roman Will who looked to be back to his usual top form following a tough game a week ago.

The closing seconds of the period would see Pardubice come dangerously close to scoring thanks to a shot rifled in from the blueline, but the toe of Harvey managed to keep the bobbling puck from the goal line. The period would close 0-0, with the Czechs outshooting their hosts 10-3, but desperate to close the two-goal aggregate gap.

Reunanen shone in the second period, quarter-backing the play that would see Kainulainen open up the scoring for the hosts. His wristshot, which was too quick for the glove of Will, came off a give-and-go from Henri Ikonen to make it 1-0 (7-4 on-aggregate). 

Lukáš Radil had one of the best chances for the Czechs with a backhand that was kicked wide by the skate of Harvey.

Another golden opportunity came Pardubice's way after Ikonen was sent to the box for interference, but Martin Kaut's slapshot attempt strayed just wide. Lukko countered with a short-handed rush but their attempt suffered a similar fate.

The Finns would be on the penalty kill yet again after Pathrik Westerholm was called for high-sticking, and the Czechs struck. Radil who had pulled the trigger seconds earlier picked up a rebound, and dished the puck to Peter Čerešňák who equalised the game 1-1, narrowing the deficit to 7-5.

At 38:50, Kainulainen picked his second goal of the night after Reunanen shovelled a perfect backhand pass onto the tape of the 27-year-old forward putting the Finns 2-1 (8-5) up.

Lukko had a busy third period blocking shots because it was do-or-die for the Czechs who needed three goals to equalise. Things looked up for Pardubice after a call went their way, leading to another two minutes of powerplay action, but nothing came of their efforts.

With less than five minutes remaining, and a face-off in the defensive end of the Finns, Pardubice pulled their goalie for an extra man, and an intense onslaught of offence, which would finally pay dividends, came. A rocket sent in from Košťálek on the blueline was unintentionally deflected off the upper body of Adam Musil and past Harvey to make it 2-2 (8-6).

Moments later, the Czechs would take the lead with Tomáš Hyka making it 3-2 (7-8), and putting the game back within striking distance. With seconds on the clock, Pardubice would secure a face-off in the zone, which they'd reload with an extra attacker, but unfortunately run out of time.

The game would end 3-2 in favour of the Czechs who would come up short 8-7 on aggregate. The one goal deficit marks the exit for Pardubice, while Lukko will look forward to their first CHL Semi-Finals since their 2025/16 campaign.