Tappara claimed a 2:1 victory over Vaxjo Lakers in the Continental Cup of Champions on Thursday evening. The Finnish side took all three points from the Swedish hosts in a contest that proved tighter than the scoreline suggested. The result leaves both teams level on points after their opening two matches.
Vaxjo sit fifteenth in the standings with two games played, one win and one defeat. Tappara occupy ninth place on the same record — two matches, one victory, one loss. Neither side has accumulated any points yet, which tells you very little about where the table is heading.
The Lakers arrived with mixed recent form, having beaten Nitra 3:1 before losing to Adler Mannheim 3:1. Tappara's run looked more volatile — a 4:5 defeat to Kolner followed by a 6:3 win over Liberec White Tigers. Neither side had found consistency before this encounter.
We had tipped Tappara for victory at 76 per cent confidence, and the away side delivered. The visitors showed enough composure in the final period to see out the result, even when Vaxjo pushed for an equaliser. It was a measured performance, not a dominant one, but it was enough to rescue the win.
Both teams will be looking to build on this opening round as the tournament progresses. The Continental Cup of Champions rewards consistency, and neither side can afford to drop points lightly. The gap between them remains close, but Tappara have taken the early advantage.