KalPa scored a much-needed victory on the road last time out to avoid going 3-0 down in their series, and they didn't let those efforts go to waste, winning 5-3 back on home ice to draw level with Ilves, in a match that had eight goals but only three different goal scorers.
Penalties and powerplays that weren't utilised was the order of the day in a scoreless first period, and it took until the 14th minute of the second for either net to bulge - Tim Soderlund and Cade Borchardt combined on a counter-attack for the latter to give KalPa the lead.
Soon after, John Nyberg was called for high sticking, and this time the hosts made use of the powerplay, with Borchardt given time to pick his spot and score his second. Yet, with a minute left in the period, Jens Looke pulled one back for Ilves after good work from Toni Utunen.
That goal failed to phase the Kuopio side, for whom Borchardt completed his hat-trick two minutes into the third by winning possession in Ilves' zone, and then added his and KalPa's fourth with 10 minutes to play, delicately sending a penalty past the helpless Mantas Armalis.
Borchardt then let someone else have a go a matter of seconds later, as Konsta Kapanen put the result beyond doubt, but there was still time for the Lynx to put some gloss on their performance, as Looke scored another two in quick succession to complete a hat-trick of his own.
Game five of the series, which is now certain to go on for at least six encounters, will be played in Tampere on Wednesday 8th April.
A clear defeat in game three had seen Assat go behind in their series for the first time, but they successfully halted the SaiPa momentum with three goals in the last 20 minutes at home to win game four, 4-2.
It looked to be more of the same for the visitors with just over a minute played, when Brian Kramer's effort from the blue line was deflected in by Patrik Siikanen, but the Pori side hit back in the 13th minute when Peter Tiivola capitalised on SaiPa hesitancy and raced away to equalise.
The second seeds showed their mettle late in the period, retaking the lead when Juuso Heikkila collected the puck on a counter-attack and drilled a quick shot beyond Jan Bednar to give the away side a 2-1 lead which they held throughout the second period.
However, the final 20 minutes belonged to Assat, who drew level again in the first minute, again punishing poor SaiPa play in the middle. This time it was Sakari Kostilainen who stole the puck and battled past the last defender before coolly deking the goaltender and finding the net.
The hosts then had the sold-out arena on its feet with just over 10 minutes to play, when Feetu Knihti picked up a puck dumped behind the net and sent it back for Arttu Alasiurua to finish in front.
Assat then sealed the win and levelled the series five minutes from time, with Knihti again providing from behind the net, this time for Roope Talaja to complete the scoring. These two will also meet for game five on 8th April, with SaiPa hosting in Lappeenranta.