"It was a punch-for-punch sprint" - Tappara's Geoff Platt

Tappara Tampere beat Rögle Ängelholm for the very first time in the Champions Hockey League to secure a place in the Semi-Finals. The Finns eliminated the reigning CHL Champions with a big 5-1 win in front of their home crowd, scoring two empty-net goals and racking up more shots on goal than the Swedes who wave farewell to their chances of defending their title.

The Finns were the more active team throughout the game and they managed to score their series-levelling goal at the start of the second period when an unmarked Jori Lehterä fired the puck in from within the crease after receiving a pass from his teammates from behind the net.

"They were difficult to play against" Tappara Tampere's Geoff Platt

"They were difficult to play against," started Tappara forward Geoff Platt, "especially in the second period."

It would take 15 more minutes for the second goal of the game to come and it would again be Tappara who would see their name light up on the board when Veli-Matti Savinainen scored his side's second of the game to go one goal up in the series. The Finnish forward picked up a pass in front of the Rögle net and fired it in glove-side from a sharp angle.

But Rögle managed to score an aggregate score equaliser before the teams headed for the locker rooms for the second time.

Geoff Platt playing in Tuesday's game (Photo: Jooel Hildén)

"It was a punch-for-punch sprint, which really isn't our style of play," said Platt, "we gave up a lot of chances because of that."

"In the second period we tightened things up and made it very difficult for them."

However, a go-ahead goal from Niko Ojamäki and two empty-netters later on in the final frame would seal the deal for Tappara who move on to face Swiss side EV Zug in the Semi-Finals.

Playing in the Champions Hockey League is a huge opportunity Tappara Tampere's Geoff Platt

"I think we were the better team, definitely for two periods," summarised the 37-year-old ex-Nhler.

Platt only officially joined the Finnish team 14 days ago but has already played in two CHL games for them this season: "I'm incredibly proud and incredibly happy to be here. As a hockey player, you rarely get the chance to win anything besides domestic championships, so playing in the Champions Hockey League is a huge opportunity for us and a great feeling."