Ice continue streak, down Ice Dogs

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The Melbourne Ice have extended its winning streak to nine to start the season following a challenging 3-1 win over the Sydney Ice Dogs at O’Brien Group Arena on Saturday night.
 
Ice with two late goals to Chris Yule giving the home side the win.
 
Ice Coach Brent Laver was thrilled by start his team have had to the season.
 
“It’s good just to continue to find a way to win,” Laver said. “It was tight on the scoreboard and it was physical – which is the way they play – and you know you’re going to be in for a tussle.
 
The Ice Dogs took it to the ladder-leading Ice with an excellent performance from 19-year old goaltender Charlie Smart saving 27 from 30 shots on goal, including several clutch saves.
 
Ice Dogs Coach Vlad Rubes said that Smart had almost helped the Dogs steal the win.
 
“[Charlie] kept us in the game pretty much,” Rubes said. “The first goal was a little soft but then he stood on his head and played well for the team.”
 
The Ice have dominated several teams so far this season and looked to do the same with an early goal to Matt Armstrong, who flew into the zone and unleashed a rocket of a shot over Smart’s glove.
 
The early hiccup was the difference for most of the game.
 
However each period brought something different to the game with the first period seeing the Ice feeling out the Ice Dogs as the visitors brought its trademark aggression, with several big hits and a strong fore-check.
 
The scoreless second period saw the Ice Dogs increase the aggression through frustration as the Ice began to control the zone.
 
Smart was immense in the second, turning away several shots from the high slot with his defence also putting bodies in front of the puck, ensuring the Ice stayed only one goal ahead.
 
The intensity of the first half of the second period lead to some frustrations being let out in the second half of the period with several minor scuffles.
 
The game changed early in the third when 17-year old rookie forward Ellesse Carini slotted a rebound through Ice goalie Troy Davenport’s five-hole and off the post, following up from Lukas Manco’s blue line slapshot.
 
The goal was Carini’s first in the AIHL in just his eighth AIHL game.
 
With the game tied at 1-all, both sides were desperate for the go-ahead in what was clearly going to be a low-scoring game and both sides made sure not to give away any penalties, opening up into an end-to-end game.
 
This opened it up to the Ice’s Chris Yule midway through the period, with a breakaway goal giving the Ice the lead.
 
It was a good goal for Yule, showing his experience to hold the puck and, while Smart looked to have it covered, Yule was able to find the smallest gap between the post and Smart's skate give the Ice the lead.
 
A second goal to Yule with a wraparound scramble in front of the net gave the Ice an insurance goal which was a goal too many as the gallant Ice Dogs were unable to catch the pace-setting Ice.
 
For the Ice, the win represents the end of a tough run of four games in a week, including the trip to Brisbane, while still being able to keep the side’s unbeaten record intact.
 
“You’d take it wouldn’t you (a 9-0 start to the season),” Laver laughed. “It’s weird though, the boys were just saying then that they feel like they haven’t hit their straps yet. And today was tough and it’s been tough after Brisbane, the late practice, the Thursday night Derby, it feels like it’s been a tough 7-10 days but we couldn’t be happier.”
 
Meanwhile, Rubes lamented the lack of shots on goal for the game.
 
“We had chances but we didn’t capitalise on a five-on-three power play which was one of the key things tonight,”Rubes said. “Then when we scored the tying goal we weren’t shooting. We only had 19 shots in the game and that was just one of those things we needed to do in the game.
 
“We need to execute on the little things, take the shots and play for the full 50 minutes.”
 
The Ice are back in action next week, travelling to Perth to face the Thunder, who themselves are on a streak of six regular time wins in a row, in a top-of-the-table clash. The Ice Dogs will face the Bears at home in the third Battle of Sydney, before heading to Newcastle to face the North Stars.