Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.

Home team Lukko Rauma go into their CHL Semi-Final with Karpat just about holding on to the final place in the Liiga's top six, having posted one win in their previous five games. Karpat, on the other hand, sit out in front of the league with a five point gap, unbeaten in four games – although three of those were non-regulation wins. The two sides met in the Liiga only a few weeks ago, with Karpat winning 5–4 in OT – indeed, the team from Oulu has beaten their Rauma counterparts on each of their three meetings this season, with the other two being in regulation.

On Lukko's offensive style, Karpat coach Lauri Marjamaki said, “They really go to the net aggresively. The last game all four goals were from less than two meters in front of (Sami) Aittokallio. On Tuesday, we will be ready to defend them against that situation.”

On the eve of the game, Lukko's Aaron Gagnon said, "I think we're ready to go. We've seen these guys a few times and we know what we're going against. We know they're a good team and they're playing confident, but I like our chances."

Starting lineups:

Lukko Rauma: Zapolski (Rinne) – Vahalahti, Gagnon, Nurmi, Koivisto, Asplund, Lahti, Suuronen, Lähteenmäki, Piitulainen, Sipiläinen, Riska, Lähde, Koivistoinen – Virtanen, Niskala, Koivisto, Ahonen, Brookbank, Hyvärinen, Tommila

Kärpät Oulu: Aittokallio (Lehtonen) – Aho, Niemi, Junttila, Kalapudas, Aaltonen, Puljujärvi, Pyörälä, Pirnes, Huml, Mäenranta, Keränen, Ikonen, Suoranta – Kukkonen, Masuhr, Nutivaara, Laatikainen, Pentikäinen, Hakapää

Referees: Wehrli (SUI), Person (SWE) – Saha, Suominen (both FIN).

Welcome aboard! Not much time left before opening faceoff for the first semi-final match between Kärpät and Lukko. We will definitely see a Finnish team in CHL finals this year and both Oulu and Rauma are eager for that spot on the sun.

U20 World Champions Sebastian Aho and Jesse Puljujärvi are leading Kärpät against Lukko which suffers from their captain Ilkka Mikkola´s injury. Therefore the letter C will be carried by Lukko defenseman Janne Niskala.

CRAMO TopScorers:

Lukko: Toni Koivisto (5+6)
Kärpät: Julius Junttila (4+6)

About 6 minutes to go.

Remember: after the full 60-minute-game the game is over, no matter what´s the score. There'll be no overtimes, no shootouts since this is the first of two games in the semi-final series. Total score is all that matters at this point, like in earlier CHL playoff rounds.

Teams entered the ice. Now it's showtime as the players line up in the blue line.

Injured Lukko forward Olavi Vauhkonen behind me comments on local radio station "0-0 is not an option here. We need to score. A lot."

Zapolski shuts Kärpät dump. Faceoff Lukko's end

Kärpät almost capitalized Niskala's miss-pass to Suoranta but no luck. Offside Kärpät.

Brookbank thought on long pass but linesman says icing. Faceoff Lukko's end

Kärpät shoots 3 times in 40 seconds, Zapolski holds. Kärpät still in control. Faceoff Lukko's end

Ikonen fires fiercely, Zapolski makes an easy save. Faceoff yet again Lukko's end

Masuhr shoots, Zapolski's glove is on the puck again. Faceoff Lukko's end

Lukko having troubles in puck control. No shots on goal yet

Icing Lukko.

Koivisto-Asplund duo makes the first real offensive play for Lukko but the shot never leaves the stick. Kärpät has the edge.

Huml spins the puck from the backside but Zapolski is not fooled. Game freezes, faceoff Lukko's end. Power break.

Piitulainen intersepts the pass and carries the puck to Kärpät end, but no team mates in sight to make the pass. Kärpät makes the play.

Lukko icing. Lukko gained momentum after two quick ones. Kärpät in ropes now.

Kärpät offside.

Kärpät's 2nd PP game is good but lacks finishing. Faceoff Lukko's end

Teams on even strength

Kärpät defensemen roughs up Lukko forwards, crowd demands a whistle but none is given

Lukko's 1st PP not convincing. Koivisto T. makes good efforts but there's no-one to finish the plays

Aittokallio freezes for a faceoff.

Teams on even strength

Sipiläinen shoots from the blue line in after-the-penalty fuzz. Aittokallio has clear vision and freezes the puck. Faceoff Kärpät end

Koivisto T. carries and send a backhander flying towards Kärpät goal, Aittokallio shuts the game. Faceoff Kärpät end

Kalapudas with a quick shot between the points, Zapolski freezes with the glove. Faceoff Lukko's end

Gagnon forces his way to Kärpät net, Aittokallio flashes his glove after a backhand shot and freezes the play. Faceoff Kärpät end

Lahti spins around Kärpät net and tries his luck with a dangerous wrister, no results. Faceoff Kärpät end

Piitulainen's shot redirects from team-mates back but flies over the net. Kärpät takes control of the puck.

Game freezes. Faceoff center ice

Lukko's 4th line working hard and well tonight. Working class heroes no doubt about it

Junttila's shot is easy for Zapolski. Game is frozen. Faceoff Lukko's end after power break.

Offside Kärpät. Nothing spectacular on the ice now, coast to coast hockey

Puljujärvi looses puck behind own net and Koivisto T. almost capitalizes. Puck disappears for a while but Kärpät seems to have found the puck again. No stoppages in play.

Now THIS is hockey! First Laatikainen fires on the other end, then Lukko makes beautiful play on Kärpät end but no goals on either side. Power break. Faceoff Kärpät end.

10 Kärpät fans are making a bigger noise than home fans. Icing Lukko.

Koivisto T. drives to Kärpät goal and a goal is near, but Koivisto is pushed to the net by Kukkonen. No goal, no penalty but Aittokallio gets ran over. Faceoff Kärpät end

Kärpät having troubles opening their play. Lukko pressure is good.

Game is whistled down after a rumble on the corner. Faceoff Lukko's end

Puck goes over the glass, faceoff neutral zone

Pass interception starts Lukko's offense and Kärpät is forced to take a penalty.

Lukko PP finds space next to Aittokallio's left goal post but no score yet. Another rush coming up.

Aittokallio faces Vahalahti's shot straight from the beginning. Puck is frozen, faceoff Kärpät end

Teams on even strength

Lukko delivers the puck on net and almost makes a lethal bounce over Aittokallio, but the goalie covers. Faceoff Kärpär end.

Vahalahti gets to shoot twice from the point but the other one was frozen by Aittokallio. Dangerous opportunities still. Faceoff Kärpät end

Niskala's easy wrister gets caught on Aittokallio's glove. Faceoff Kärpät end.

Kukkonen and Pirnes crash together and Kärpät's good offensive pressure dries out.

Lukko offside

Puck over the glass, no penalty. Faceoff neutral zone

Attendance tonight: 2063

Icing Lukko

Gagnon tripped over a rush to the net, no penalty. Lukko shoots from in front of the net, Aittokallio saves. Faceoff Kärpät end.

Offside Kärpät

Kärpät PP struggling. No shots on goal yet.

Gagnon on a 1vs2 short-handed rush, defenseman dives and Aittokallio closes. Faceoff Kärpät end

Teams on even strength. Puck over the glass, faceoff Lukko's end

Offside Kärpät. Power break

With the game tied this one is still out there for grabs. Should either one outscore tonight the opponent, the victory is well deserved.

Puck flies to the crowd, faceoff neutral zone.

Remember: no matter what's the score, game ends tonight after 3 periods. Even if the game ends in tie.

Mäenalanen roughs up Brookbank behind Lukko's net. Obviously the yankee is not amused.

Virtanen dumps the puck towards Aittokallio for an offensive zone faceoff. Lukko needs to step up their offense now.

Lukko icing.

Kärpät keeping the clock running, this score is fine by them. Puck over the glass, neutral zone faceoff

Icing Kärpät. Lukko not taking a time out