In the opening match of the quarter-final series of the Optibet hockey league, HC Panter faced a tough loss, going down 4:1 to HK Liepaja. The game started off poorly for Panter, as Liepaja quickly took control and established a 2:0 lead by the end of the first period. Despite a more competitive second period, where both teams had several chances but failed to score, the momentum remained with Liepaja, maintaining their dominance on the ice.

As the third period began, Liepaja extended their lead to 3:0, putting even more pressure on HC Panter. Although Panter managed to reduce the deficit when Rico Marder scored midway through the period, they were unable to capitalize further on their chances. The match concluded with Liepaja securing their victory by scoring an empty-net goal, leading to the final score of 4:1. Goalkeeper Eetu Nieminen played a significant role for Panter, making 26 saves against a barrage of shots from the opposing team.

The defeat puts HC Panter in a challenging position as they prepare for the second game in the best-of-five series, which will take place on Sunday at 4:00 PM in the Haabersti Ice Hall in Tallinn. The team will need to regroup quickly to avoid a potential elimination and turn the series around in the upcoming match.