Lulea and Brynas were both hosting their respective first legs and therefore looking to make a good start, and that was exactly what Lulea did, taking the lead in the fifth minute against Ilves through Brendan Shinnimin, before Markus Nurmi added a second 10 minutes later on a powerplay.
Nurmi was called for hooking in the second period, but Ilves failed to take advantage. However, the Liiga side were back in the game early in the third when Eemil Laurell struck, only for Mathias Brome to restore the hosts' two-goal cushion two minutes later.
In the final 10 minutes, Timi Teuho-Markkola cut the gap again to ensure Ilves will begin the second leg in Tampere in a fortnight's time only a goal down, but for now it's Lulea celebrating a 3-2 victory.
Last season's Swedish Hockey League (SHL) runners-up Brynas have one foot in the Semi-finals already after they ran out 5-1 winners over KalPa on home ice.
However, unlike their compatriots, the Gavle side could not have got off to a worse start, with the Liiga champions taking the lead after just 25 seconds through Andreas Okany. But the home side quickly regrouped and an Axel Jonsson Fjallby got them back on level terms with five minutes gone.
That was how things stayed until the midpoint in the match when Brynas took control with two goals in under three minutes - Gustav Hillstrom was on hand to deflect a long-range shot past the goaltender, before Jack Kopacka's strike from distance flew in without help from a teammate.
A perfect middle period for Brynas was capped off with four seconds to go when Johannes Kinnvall put them 4-1 up, then, despite giving KalPa plenty of powerplay opportunities in the final period, Brynas extended their advantage, courtesy of Axel Andersson.
KalPa will have it all to do in two weeks' time in Kuopio to make a comeback. Tomorrow sees Finland's final Quarter-final representative take to the ice, as Lukko welcome Zug to Rauma for their first leg.
In the late face-off, Frolunda made it a perfect night for the SHL by coming from behind to take a 3-1 away victory in Germany against ERC Ingolstadt.
The current SHL leaders found themselves in the unfamiliar position of being behind in the 12th minute, when Leon Huttl struck for the hosts.
But a tripping call against Sam Ruopp in the final minute of the opening period would come back to bite Ingolstadt, as Jere Innala made the powerplay count byt equalising 22 seconds after the restart.
The turnaround was complete 12 minutes later when Henrik Tommernes scored his first goal for over six weeks, then the Gothenburg side finally sealed the win eight minutes from time, when Max Friberg earned his second assist, supplying the pass for Linus Hogberg.
Frolunda will look to avoid an upset at home when the second legs come around on 16th December.
Follow all the second leg action of the 2025/26 CHL Quarter-finals on Flashscore.