Karpat Oulu have opened their quarter-final series against SaiPa Lappeenranta with a huge 2–0 road win, putting them in the driver's seat as the scene shifts to northern Finland. 

SaiPa Lappeenranta 0–2 Karpat Oulu

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by Luke Fisher, quotes from Kalle Mantere

LAPPEENRANTA – Karpat Oulu will head into the second leg of their Champions Hockey League game against SaiPa Lappeenranta not only on home ice, but also with a two goal cushion, following their win tonight. Joonas Donskoi scored the game's only two goals as Karpat made the most of their 12 shots on goal. At the other end of this defensively played contest, Iiro Tarkki stopped all 16 SaiPa attempts for the shutout. 

When his team's few number of shots was brough up afterward, Karpat coach Lauri Marjamaki said, "It's only the ones that go in that count." He added, "When neither team takes any risks, the game will most likely be decided by special teams. Our commitment to defence was good and Tarkki was solid when needed."

In a game lacking many clear-cut scoring chances, the opening period ended goalless between the two Liiga teams. The visitors opened the scoring at 22:57 on the power play, with a nice passing move finished off by Donskoi. And it was Donoskoi who stuck again just over ten minutes later. With SaiPa on the power play, the Kärpät forward reacted to a loose puck in the neutral zone to skate through and score just as his side returned to five skaters.

Describing his first goal, Donskoi said it was the "first time we did it," adding, "We didn't even practice it. It was just something that our head coach drew on the board. I'd say it worked really well." About the second goal at the tail end of the penalty kill he said, "I got an excellent pass from (Joonas) Kemppainen and got to backhand it towards the goal. It's always nice to score shorthanded."

No further goals in the third period ensured the visitors' win.

"It's annoying. We didn't get ourselves into many good chances to score. We were too cautious at times when we should have created some opportunities, and then the other team took advantage," said SaiPa coach Pekka Tirkkonen. 

SaiPa will have it all to do in the second leg back in Oulu, against a Karpat side that has yet to lose at home in the CHL. The two clubs met in Oulu only a month ago in the Liiga, with the hosts running out 3–0 winners – possibly making SaiPa's task even harder. However, SaiPa will remember that they were 2–0 to Genève-Servette after the first leg of their eighth-final match-up, and turned it round to eventually win through.

Said Tirkkonen, "We were down two goals last time. We still believe in ourselves and we'll get ready for it. There's still 60 minutes remaining."