It wasn't easy, as they were pushed to the brink by Karpat Oulu, but after losing in regulation time, Frolunda Gothenburg finally became the CHL's first finalist with an overtime victory. They held a two-goal aggregate lead going into the last period, but Oulu came back and very nearly won it, but Erik Gustafsson scored the series-winner on the power play.  

Karpat Oulu 3–2 Frolunda Gothenburg

Frolunda win series 6–5 (OT) on aggregate | WATCH highlights here

by Luke Fisher

OULU – Frolunda Gothenburg advanced to the finals of the Champions Hockey League in a game full of drama in Oulu, Finland. Karpat went into the game trailing by two goals from the first leg, but a magic minute saw the home side level the match-up as the third period drew to a close. Overtime ensued, and a power-play goal saw the visitors from western Sweden through.

"It was an important game for us," stated Frolunda head coach Roger Ronnberg, who is happy to advance but acknowledged that his team was second best in this game. "We were really lucky today and had great goaltending. I think we were better the game in Gothenburg and Karpat were the better team today, to be honest. I think we were lucky but we found a way to win. I know we can play better but I have a lot of respect for Karpat. They're a really good team."

"I'm so proud of my team and how we played," said Karpat coach Lauri Marjamaki. At the same time he admitted, "I am really dissapointed. We were the better team tonight and we came so close to the final. The atmosphere in the crowd was incredible tonight."

Trailing 4–2 from the game in Gothenburg, Karpat knew the importance of getting an early goal as they returned to home ice against Frolunda, and Joonas Donskoi duly obliged with a power-play goal with just 4:07 played. It was a tale of two power plays in the opening stages, with Mattias Janmark replying for Frolunda some two minutes later to re-establish the Indians' two-goal cushion.

Despite the power play efficiency in the first period, neither side could make the extra man count in the middle session. Both teams saw three power-play chances each go begging as the second stanza failed to produce any goals.

That blank period meant that Karpat had only 20 minutes to save their chances of making it to the CHL final, needing two goals in the final period to tie the score overall. Finally, after laying siege to the visitors' net, the home side made a power play opportunity count – Esa Pirnes reacted first to a loose puck off the back boards to put the Finnish side ahead 2–1 on the night, and bringing them back to within one overall at 48:37. Then, just over 30 seconds later, the home crowd was sent into ecstasy when Julius Junttila was sent clear by Joonas Kemppainen through a nice give and go on the blue line. He skated in on Lars Johansson and put the puck home, tying game with just over 10 minutes to play.

"We didn't skate as much as last game," said Frolunda captain Joel Lundqvist. "They came at us hard and we were too slow. We've gotta be a little faster next game." 

The final 10 minutes saw chances for both teams, though neither could find a goal and so the game headed into overtime. Karpat had the best chance to win the game quickly into the extra period as Frolunda's Niklas Lasu was called for tripping, but couldn't find a way through. Almost three minutes later, Karpat's Arto Laatikainen was sent to the penalty box for a hook after some lapse defending, and it took Erik Gustafsson just 1:09 of the extra man to win the game for Frölunda - Mathis Olimb's shot coming back off the post, and Gustafsson batting the puck out of mid-air into the net to score the sudden-death overtime winner.

"Of course, in overtime we had our own power play and we didn't score," acknowledged Marjamaki. "Maybe Frolunda had a bit more individual skill, but I'm so proud of my team and good luck to Frolunda (in the final)."

The goal was a thrilling end to a fine series, and while Karpat will be deeply disappointed to lose out, they battled hard to force overtime after a two-goal deficit. For Frolunda, a final against another SHL team awaits.