Ice pull rug out from Mustangs in Melbourne Derby Tight, tense match is highlight game for the rivalry

MELBOURNE, Australia – Saturday the 23rd July the Mustangs played host to the Melbourne Ice in front of yet another sell-out crowd. These games are like a knock out final and will hang on who plays better on the day.

The players came out on the ice for warm up and going through their paces and oops there goes a pane of glass. Warm up ceased and the players headed back to into the change rooms. The game was delayed by half an hour to replace the glass and resurface the ice before play could start. The glass breaking was the first time it has happened on game day.

The first period started, it was like the stadium was holding their breath to see which team was going to take the first advantage. Did not have to wait long for something to happen, it took less than five minutes and Jamie Bourke an interference call, put the Melbourne Ice on a power play.  Mustangs were successful in the penalty kill. five minutes later Joseph Hughes from Melbourne was able to get one into the back of the net. Then Jamie Bourke from the Mustangs was able equalize the score 5 mins later.  At the end of the first, the score was a tie at one all.

The second period was played at a frenetic pace it was like an arm wrestle between the two teams. Both teams were taking the puck from end to end and bodies were put on the line. The interesting part of the game this period had 18 PIM with a check from behind and misconduct penalty.

Start of the third period the score was still locked at one all. Both team started playing with more intensity than the previous two periods. Some great end to end hockey was being played by both teams.  It was not until the last five minutes of the game that the deadlock was broken by Lasse Lassen, Melbourne Ice.

Mustangs tried to tie the score and the chances to get the shot on goal slipped by. Melbourne Ice were able to get the puck on net and they were also successful in scoring one more time with 30 seconds to go on an empty net by Tommy Powell.

The final score Melbourne Ice 3 -1 Mustangs

It was a great game of hockey and many of the fans that support both teams made the comment that has been the best derby that they have seen in a while.