MELBOURNE, Australia – After the dominant performance of last week, Ice fans could be forgiven for going into Saturday’s game with a level of confidence. It would be quickly evident we were in store for a very different style of game.
The Thunder came out of the gates hard in their first game of the season. Penalties were heavy in the first period and both teams found themselves with a number of powerplay opportunities. Ice fans quickly realised we would not be treated to another 5 goal opening period, with no goals scored after 12 minutes of play.
Determined to make a mark in his first game for the Ice, Canadian import Devon Krogh seemed to get his Red White and Blue teams confused. In what would have been an impressive goal (had it not been against his own team), Krogh chipped a shot from Thunder favourite Andrew Cox past a surprised goalie Michael James to take Perth to a 0-1 lead.
The end of period break couldn’t come quick enough for the Ice, who struggled to match the intensity of their opposition. Their forward pressure lifted in the second period, yet despite a number of opportunities, they remained unable to convert on the scoreboard. Michael James continued to stay cool under pressure and the score remained 0-1 for a large portion of the period.
The situation worsened for the home team, when Perth’s new import Pier-Olivier Grandmaision slotted his first AIHL goal off a breakaway, after a couple of attempts. Despite being shorthanded, the Thunder were making the most of their opportunities with the reigning champs playing catch up. With 5 minutes remaining in the second period, it was time for the Ice to step up their game.
Still on the powerplay as the clock wound down, Dylan Anderson became the first scorer for the Ice with an impressive shot past Di Salvo’s left shoulder. Assists from Todd Graham and Dillon Lawrence, helped put Ice on the board bringing the game to 1-2. Anderson decided he wouldn’t be outshone by the hattrick from his teammate last week, and with a minute to go, secured his second goal, levelling the scores at 2-2. We had a game on our hands.
The third period opened with ferocity, as Dylan Anderson became the second Ice player to secure a hattrick for the season. Assisted by Todd Graham (playing in vintage form), the goal put Melbourne Ice in the lead (3-2) for the first time all game. The lead remained in tact for the next 12 minutes before Lyndon Lodge ricocheted a shot from Benjamin Breult to tie the game once more.
Determined to maintain his spot amongst the leading league points scorers, Cas Delsar (or Del Cassar as her was referred to by commentator and 3 time Goodall Cup coach Paul “Jaffa” Watson) took back the lead a mere 35 seconds later with a cheeky shot to the top right corner. Thunder retaliated almost instantly with an impressive goal by Tomas Sak from just inside the blue line. The final minutes ran down and we were headed to a shoot out. Anderson was first off the bench, gliding the puck past Di Salvo with ease. With no further goals put past either goalie, the Tempur Melbourne Ice secured the shoot out win.
With a number of players to return from the World Championships next week, we look forward to our first road trip to Adelaide for a double header against The Adrenaline.
With Ice match report
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