Beginning the night in fourth but only two points off the top and none of the teams above them in action, the summit was the prize on offer for Assat, but fourth is where they remain after a 3-0 loss to Tappara, as the champions put an end to their three-match losing run.
With neither side in great form it took time for the match to get going, but after a goalless first half, it got going but all one way, as Oliver Suvanto scored shorthanded and Jyrki Jokipakka added a second before period two was out. Joni Tuulola completed the scoring in the third, as Juha Metsola took his save tally to 21 to earn a shutout.
Kiekko-Espoo and Tappara remain locked together on points in ninth and tenth, respectively, as the former ran out 4-2 winners over KooKoo, ending a run of two defeats as the visitors failed to build on a win over Tappara the day before and remain nine points from safety.
There was a faster start in this one, as KE were 2-0 up after five minutes, as Linus Oberg broke the deadlock before Jere Vaisanen struck shorthanded. Veeti Miettinen halved the deficit midway through the match, and after Carter King scored early in the third for Kiekko, Robert Rooba responded instantly for the away side who wouldn't give in, before Oberg's second into an empty net finally sealed the win.