Riga Prizma beat HK Panter Tallinn 3:1 in the opening fixture of the Optibet Hockey League on Friday. The hosts took all three points in front of their own supporters, while the visitors left empty-handed after their first competitive outing of the campaign. There are no accumulated points yet in the table — this was the first round, and both sides sit on zero after one game each.
By then, Prizma had already established a rhythm. They came off a string of mixed results in March, losing four of their last five before a comfortable 5:0 win against Energiya Elektrenaj. Panter's recent form was less encouraging, with heavy defeats to Liepāja and Zemgale Jelgava among their last five outings. To be fair, this was a fresh start for both squads.
The visitors started brighter than their record suggested. They pressed high and created early chances, keeping Prizma's defence on the back foot for the first ten minutes. And here's the thing — it was the hosts who broke the deadlock. A quick transition caught Panter in possession, and Prizma took the lead before the visitors could regroup.
Panter pushed for an equaliser and nearly got one. They worked the puck into the zone and had a shot that came off the post, but the rebound fell to a Prizma defender who cleared it. The pressure didn't let up, but the hosts held their shape. The second period saw more of the same, with Panter controlling possession but unable to find the net.
Prizma added a second goal midway through the third period. A turnover in the visitors' zone allowed them to go on the counter, and they finished the move cleanly. Panter pulled their goalkeeper for an extra attacker, but the pressure told. A late goal sealed the result and ended any hopes of a comeback.
The win puts Prizma top of the table on merit, though the points tally remains at zero alongside their opponents. Panter sit ninth after their first defeat, and the gap in confidence between the two sides was visible from the opening whistle. This was a statement from the hosts — they will make life awkward for everyone in the league.