For the third match running, the visiting team took the victory in the Lukko-SaiPa series, though this one was the tighest yet, as SaiPa left Rauma with a 2-1 victory after two overtime periods.
Yet the visitors had enough opportunities to make it much more comfortable, squandering plenty of opportunities in the first two periods when they failed to take advantage of three powerplays. Lukko had the pipes and goaltender Joni Ortio to thank for keeping the scores level.
The team from Lappeenranta were left cursing their luck when they conceded the opening goal early in the third period, especially with Lukko scoring on a powerplay. An Eric Gelinas shot from the blue line was deflected into the bottom corner by Steven Jandric.
But SaiPa were behind for only five minutes, drawing level when Miro Tauslahti kept his composure brilliantly to dummy a defender and pick his spot past Ortio.
If luck had been against SaiPa earlier, it was certainly on their side now, as Lukko had goals disallowed late in the third period and in the first overtime period, as the score remained 1-1.
Then, 32 minutes and 23 seconds into overtime, SaiPa secured what felt like an unlikely win in the end.
Mikko Petman and Otto Kivenmaki linked up as they swept down the rink together, and it was Kivenmaki who finished off the move to send the travelling fans wild.
Game four will be played tomorrow at Lappeenrannan Jaahalli.
After back-to-back 3-2 defeats, Ilves hit back to beat KalPa 3-0 and reduce the visitors' series advantage.
The team from Tampere used the extra space in the attacking zone during a 4-on-3 midway through the first period, building patiently before Jens Looke picked his spot and broke the deadlock.
In the 12th minute, they took advantage of the final seconds of the powerplay to double their lead. Looke was involved again, finding Matias Mantykivi who set up Ville Meskanen for a powerful one-timer.
KalPa offered little in response and it was just a question of when the Lynx would add their third goal. It finally arrived five minutes into the final period when Juuso Kononen had space in the centre of the attacking zone to fire past Stefanos Lekkas.
The Kuopio side have the chance to regain a two-match lead tomorrow in game four at Olvi Areena.