Action in the 2021/22 Champions Hockey League continued on Friday night, and Group E action began as HC Lugano of Switzerland hosted Skellefteå AIK of Sweden.

The visitors Skellefteå were the first to strike as the opening period reached the midway point. A quick rush up the ice saw the puck centred by captain Oscar Möller to Jonathan Jonsson to open the scoring.

No sooner had Skellefteå put the puck in the net, they were fishing it out of their own. Micro Muller fired a blast from the point through traffic, leaving Skellefteå goalie Strauss Mann with no chance at stopping it and the game was tied at one apiece, which is how it would remain heading into the second period.

HC Lugano were the first to strike when the puck dropped for the second period. Luca Fazzini fired a great wrist shot over the goalies shoulder to give the hosts the lead and Calvin Thurkauf extended their advantage a few minutes later, as Mann couldn’t quite handle the initial shot and the puck trickled over the line for a 3-1 Lugano lead heading into the final period, despite Skellefteå leading in shots on goal.

Lugano looked to close out their victory, denying Skellefteå from finding a second, and late on in the third, Marc Arcobello stole the puck, found Daniel Carr who found the back of the net in his competitive debut for the side, and as Julian Walker added a fifth moments later, it was the cherry on the top of the cake, securing a huge win for Lugano.