HC Lugano scored a late qualifier and an OT-winner to win their group after a dramatic game at home to Adler Mannheim. Read more in Gamecentre. 

A tight opening period saw just the one goal as the visitors started the game well. David Wolf opened the scoring for Mannheim with 9:29 played to give them a one-goal lead that they kept into the first intermission. In fact, the Adler's lead help up for almost 20 minutes – just four seconds short of that then Alessio Bertaggia equalised for the home side. Bertaggia's goal was both sublime and ridiculous at the same time – he made a mess of his move around the defencemen, but superbly dove to poke home the puck anyway!

“The game started our way – we played a good first 10 minutes, but as we didn’t score it seems that we had to change something, we started messing around with the puck in the neutral zone, creating a lot of turnovers and we woke up Mannheim,” Lugano coach Doug Shedden said. “They are a strong team and played a great game.”

Just under six minutes later Lugano had turned the game around completely, Damien Brunner scoring on the rebound from a tight angle at 35:20. Mannheim could feel slightly aggrieved at being a goal down, and were rewarded for their play in the middle session by tying the scores with three seconds remaining on the period. Ryan MacMurchy was the luckiest man in the rink as Sinan Akdag's shot bounced off the glad and flew back into the crease for MacMurchy to bat home.

The see-saw game continued in the final period, as Mannheim took the lead for the second time in the match. Denis Reul's shot off a face-off was deflected into the net by veteran captain Marcus Kink for his first ever CHL goal at 43:51. Despite trying to level the game, Lugano were frustrated time and again by their visitors from Mannheim as the clock wound down. However, needing just ap point to make the next round Lugano kept pressing for the equaliser, and duly got it with just 1:08 left – Patrick Zackrisson getting the final touch on a loose puck in the crease to send the home fans wild.

With a point after regulation, Lugano were then confirmed as qualifying for the Round of 32. Into overtime and after a couple of early chances for both sides, Mannheim took a minor giving Lugano the 4-on-3 advantage. The home side showed no mercy either despite already having the result they needed, Linus Klasen scoring at 62:12 with a neat wrist shot to win the game for the Swiss team!

“At the end I was asking myself, how does we win this game?” Shedden admitted. “We made a few mistakes allowing them to equalize with three seconds left in the second period, we didn’t deserve to draw the game, but I like the fact that we didn’t quit in the third period and were lucky to find the tying goal, I could pull the goalie because I didn’t want to risk conceding another goal. This is a tough group and we manage to win it, I feel good about it, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

“I’m proud. We played a really strong game and we were the better team,” sighed Mannheim coach Sean Simpson. “The loss is hard to swallow but we must stay positive for the game Sunday against Tappara. I saw a lot of good thinks we can built on, and we will give everything for a positive result in that final and crucial game for our team. Nevertheless, we can be confident.”

Mannheim now head to Tampere with a one-point advantage over the Liiga club, needing at least one point to advance.