The Sydney Ice Dogs have pulled off a comeback for the ages, fighting back to defeat the Melbourne Mustangs 6–4 at O’Brien Group Arena on Sunday night.
After two period, the Ice Dogs were 4-1 down, rocketing back into the game on the back of five unanswered goals in the third, including a hat-trick to Grant Toulmin.
Ice Dogs Coach Vlad Rubes was happy to claim the points.
“Both teams knew it was kind of a season breaker for them,” Rubes said. “We started a bit slower, and they scored three quick goals. Being 3-1 down and then 4-1 down after two periods didn't look so good, but I’m pretty proud of the boys that they found their second gear in the third period.”
The Mustangs had a promising start to the game with Jamie Bourke slotting the opening goal just 29 seconds into the first.
While the Ice Dogs fought back when youngster Ellesse Carini set up Strat Allen for the Ice Dogs first goal, a Bourke wraparound goal and a Matt Stringer strike from the slot gave the home side a 3-1 lead at the first break.
Bourke sealed a hat-trick midway through the second period, latching onto a cross ice pass from Captain Pat O’Kane to give the Mustangs the 4-1 lead they would hold until the end of the period.
“We did our systems we did what we talked about, it worked, and it showed, we got the pressure on the scoreboard,” Mustangs Coach Michael Flaherty said. “Unfortunately, we gave them a sniff and we let them back into the game. Good teams in this league, and every team's capable of it. You give them a sniff, they're going to take advantage of it.”
The third period is where the Ice Dogs seemed to come out with a new level of intensity.
Two minutes in, Carini started the onslaught jumping on the ice from a change and collecting Allen’s stretch pass to slot a strong breakaway goal.
While the Mustangs worked hard to reinstate the lead, the Ice Dogs worked hard to keep the hopes of a comeback alive.
“We made some errors, which allowed them back into the game, and then once they were able to get back into the game, they then lifted; there's no question about it,” said Flaherty.
The last seven minutes of the game saw the Ice Dogs score the last four goals that would put them in the lead.
Grant Toulmin scored his first, taking the puck into the zone up the boards with only one player to beat. The Canadian import threaded the puck through the legs of the final Mustangs defender, before his score cut the deficit to just one goal.
When the Ice Dogs scored two in 44 through Paul Swindlehurst firing in a one-timer and Toulmin cleaning up a scramble in front of net, the Ice Dogs had the lead for the first time in the match.
While the Mustangs pushed hard for an equaliser, pulling goalie Fraser Carson, with Toulmin completing his hat-trick with the empty netter.
“I think we just put a bit more effort into the game, more energy more effort, just doing the little things right was the difference,” said Rubes.
The Ice Dogs take on the Bears next Saturday at home before travelling to Newcastle to face the North Stars, while the Mustangs take on the Adrenaline in Melbourne for a double header.
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