The Perth Thunder completed a dominant sweep of the Sydney Ice Dogs with an 8-2 win at the Perth Ice Arena on Sunday night.
Following up from Saturday’s big 8-0 win in the club’s 100th game in the AIHL, the Thunder moved back into second on the AIHL ladder with the Sunday victory tightening up the battle for the minor premiership between the North Stars, Ice and Thunder.
Coming off a hat-trick performance in his 100th game on Saturday, Thunder forward Jordy Kyros was again in fine form, adding two more goals to bring his tally for the weekend to five.
Thunder goaltender Mark Guggenberger also enjoyed a successful weekend, not conceding a goal for the weekend, having been relieved by back up Mark McCann for the final period.
Thunder coach Dave Kenway was pleased with his team’s dominant performance across the weekend.
“Six points in the bag which puts us further up the ladder is always good,” Kenway said. “The pace of the game was a little slower than normal, but overall I’m happy with the results.”
Complacency was something which Kenway was keen for his team to avoid after the big win on Saturday.
“It’s easy to get complacent and want to do everything on your own when you’re six goals up,” Kenway said. “You just have to remind the players about what they’re here for and what they’re playing for and use it as a chance to work on systems.”
Ice Dogs coach Tim Flynn focused on the positives from what proved to be a tough weekend for the visitors.
“We had a short bench all weekend which makes things hard,” Flynn said. “Our guys skated hard and with such a young team, they were very tired by the end of the third period, and it showed.”
However, Flynn praised his young squad’s efforts in Perth.
“They’re learning how to play at that next level and make those quick decisions,” Flynn said. “Towards the end of the game, when you are 6-0 down, it all becomes about the next goal. We got two goals tonight which was excellent for the weekend.”
The Thunder burst out of the gates early once again with first period goals to Cox, Hudson and a shorthanded goal coming from the stick of Kluuskeri.
The Ice Dogs were put on the back foot defensively with the Thunder cycling the puck very effectively early on and taking a 3-0 lead into the locker rooms at the first intermission.
The second period saw the Ice Dogs bring more defensive pressure to the Thunder with some big saves coming from Ice Dogs net minder Jake Burgess.
However, two goals in quick succession however gave the Thunder a 5-0 lead before an Ice Dogs boarding penalty resulted in a Toni Kluuskeri power play goal to stretch the Thunder’s lead to 6-0.
Tempers flared just before the second intermission with Thunder captain Sam Wilson and the Ice Dogs’ Sean Hamilton both ejected from the game for fighting, leaving the Ice Dogs with only six on the bench.
Two early Thunder penalties gave Sydney a five-on-three power play which Mario Passarelli capitalised on his team’s two man advantage, putting the Ice Dogs on the scoreboard at the ten minute mark of the third period.
Soon after, it was the Thunder who found the back of the net once again through Luc Daigneault, giving the home side a 7-1 lead.
The last ninety seconds of play saw both sides hitting the scoreboard with the Ice Dogs’ Jake Knott scoring his first AIHL goal, before Jordy Kyros sealed the 8-2 result for the Thunder with six seconds remaining in the game.
Perth defenceman Greg Hyde, who played his 50th game for the Thunder on Sunday, commented on the significance of sealing a big win in a milestone game.
“It’s always good to get to your milestones, especially with the club at 100 games as well,” Hyde said. “I think we’re really starting to adapt better to the league this year and doing well, so hopefully we keep going.”
When asked about significant highlights in his 50 game run with the Thunder, Hyde said it was the big moments that stood out.
“It’s always good when you get in a bit of a scrap or get those big goals,” Hyde commented. “Those big game changing moments are always good to get.”
Next week will see the Thunder back on home ice in Perth against the Melbourne Mustangs on Saturday, while the Ice Dogs look ahead to two games next weekend against the Brave in Canberra and North Stars in Newcastle.
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BEARS
RHINOS
ICE DOGS
ADRENALINE
THUNDER
ICE
BRAVE
LIGHTNING
NORTHSTARS
MUSTANGS
