Team | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | CP | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northstars | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
Lightning | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Adrenaline | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Brave | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Rhinos | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player | Points |
---|---|
Aiden Wagner (NNS) | 18 |
Wehebe Darge (NNS) | 15 |
francis Drolet (NNS) | 15 |
Zane Jones (PER) | 13 |
Goalie | SV% |
---|---|
Rhys Pelliccione (PER) | .950 |
Tatsunoshin Ishida (MIC) | .933 |
Leo Bertein (PER) | .905 |
Charles Smart (NNS) | .903 |
Thunder edge Ice in playoff preview |
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The Perth Thunder edged the Melbourne Ice 4-2 in a top-of-the-table clash on the eve of the 2016 AIHL Finals at O’Brien Group Arena on Saturday night.
With a potential grand final preview on everyone’s mind, this game gave both of the league’s top two sides the opportunity to make a statement at this point of the season, heading into the AIHL Finals next weekend.
With the points now sealed and the teams in the midst of Finals preparations, it was important for both sides to gain an edge coming into the playoffs.
For the Thunder, this game was about getting everyone on the ice, and making sure all systems we’re go, ahead of their Semi-Final against defending premiers the Newcastle North Stars on Saturday night.
“This weekend, we had a great opportunity to come here and play the Ice,” Assistant Coach Darrin Bryce said. “This is a great situation, where we can come here the week before finals and get all the guys tested and get everyone on the ice against this team.”
For the Ice, it was about making sure everyone knew their systems well and making sure everyone was playing the kind of hockey Head Coach Brent Laver would be looking for come finals.
“We battled today, but we didn’t really come to play,” Laver said after the loss. “We just have to go back to doing the things well that made us such a strong, solid defensive team this year. And I think it’s probably our back end that we have to look after a little better. I think today we gave up too many chances and we were still just a couple of percent off.”
As the puck dropped however, it was evident that both teams were looking to prevent any injury or suspensions at this point in the season.
As the first period wore on though, the pace of the game began to feel more like a typical matchup between these two teams, and it was Jason Baclig who was able to net the game’s first goal with just under half of the first period remaining before Jessyko Bernard responded for the visitors just under a minute later.
When they stepped out on to the Ice for the second, neither team looked like they wanted to concede another goal, as both teams were clearly preparing for the following weekend as the games pace ebbed again.
Despite the scoreless period, it was an entertain goalie duel with the Ice’s Troy Davenport and Thunder’s Thomas Heemskerk showing why they’ve been sitting atop the goalie leaders ladder since the early stages of the season.
As the final twenty minutes began to tick down, the pace began to flood back into the game right from the get-go of the final stanza.
Within minutes of the puck drop, Benjamin Breault had tallied his first of the game to give the Perth squad a 2-1 lead early in the third.
The lead was quickly doubled as Michael Dorr blasted a goal past Davenport on a tight angle.
As has happened all season, the Ice weren’t about to lay down with Jason Baclig responding with a power play goal to make it a one-goal game with just under nine minutes remaining.
After some spectacular back and forth action up and down the Ice to close out the game, Breault sealed the deal, getting his second on an empty net opportunity as the Ice tried to level the scores.
As the Thunder closed out the remaining seconds, it was quite clear that the young Perth team had sent a message to the big Melbourne crowd, and anyone else who would be waiting for them come Finals next weekend.
“We had a really good run this season, and to be finishing in second spot after a couple bumps in the middle of the year feels good,” Bryce said. “Everyone is coming together now and it’s all about making sure everyone has a feel for the ice come finals.”
For the Thunder, it will be a battle against the defending Champions in the Newcastle North Stars.
The Melbourne Ice will renew its rivalry with the CBR Brave, which will be one of the most anticipated re-matches of the 2016 season.
“Our league revolves around coming into a playoff where no matter where you finish, it’s down to how well you play on one day to make the final,” Laver said. “And to do that, and for us I think you just have to get in there, set things up and you really just have to go to war and hope that it goes your way.” |
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Contact Information
Australian Ice Hockey League Ltd
Level 1
7 Lonsdale Street
Braddon, Australian Capital Territory
2612 Australia
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