IFK Helsinki were holding onto a Playoff place by the skin of their teeth following a 6-1 thrashing by KooKoo last time out, yet that didn't stop them going on the offensive in the first period, as Oliver Larsen and Kalle Ervasti twice gave them the lead in the last five minutes.
But both times they poked the Tappara bear, the hosts responded quickly; first through Jyrki Jokipakka, then Joachim Blichfeld before the period was out. And when Vincent Marleau gave HIFK their third lead of the game in the middle period, the hosts found another equaliser, through Eetu Tuulola.
However, in the third period, not only did Daniel Makiaho put the visitors in front for the fourth time, Tappara failed to respond before Jori Lehtera made it 5-3 with 16 minutes to play, and dreams of an upset were growing.
In the final two minutes, Emil Sylvegard pulled one back to set up a dramatic finish, but the Helsinki side held on for a 5-4 win - their first win in three - that gives them a three-point cushion between themselves and those outside the Playoff places.
Tappara's lead at the top has been cut to five points, and a new name is their closest challenger, after SaiPa went second thanks to a 4-3 overtime win over Jukurit, who drop out of the Playoff places following a third defeat in their last four.
SaiPa were forced to do it the hard way - Eero Klintrup gave them the early lead, but three unanswered goals from Justin Addamo, Louis Boudon and William Worge Kreu put Jukurit 3-1 up by the second minute of period two.
But two goals in two minutes late in the second from Maxime Fortier and Ondrej Trejbal got the visitors back on level terms, and a goalless third period meant overtime would be required. Two minutes in, Patrik Siikanen was the SaiPa hero to secure the two-point victory - their third win in a row.
Antoine Morand's goal four minutes from time looked to have saved Lukko, who came from 3-0 and 4-1 down away at Karpat to send the match to overtime, only for Raty Aku to win it for the hosts three minutes into the extra period, 5-4.
Lukko's first loss in three was enough for them to surrender second place to SaiPa, while the Oulu side have climbed back up to 14th with a second win in three.
Taking advantage of those around them struggling were JYP, who move back into fourth after being the only side other than SaiPa in the top five to win tonight. They beat Vaasan Sport 3-1 for a second win in a row, while it's five without a win now for bottom-of-the-pile Sport.
JYP have once again swapped places with KooKoo, who slip back to fifth, as they failed to come back in the third period against Kiekko-Espoo, who ran out 4-2 winners to end a four-match losing sequence. KooKoo saw their two-match run of 6-1 wins come to an end.
Hameenlinna recovered from a goal down to win 3-1 at home to TPS Turku, moving above their opponents into 11th with their third consecutive victory, while TPS have now lost five of their last six
One from the bottom but well clear of Sport are Pelicans, who suffered a seventh defeat in succession, this time going down 3-1 at home to KalPa. The Kuopio side's four-match winning streak is the best active run in the league, and it has taken them back up to sixth.
Dropping to seventh are Ilves, who have now lost three of four since their amazing winning run came to an end. This time they were beaten 2-1 away at Assat, who stay in eighth place, two points shy of the Lynx.