ADELAIDE, Australia – Adelaide Adrenaline turned up the heat in game one on Saturday, with a sizzling 10-0 drumming of the Melbourne Mustangs. As weather patterns can change in the blink of an eye, there was an icy chill in the air as the Mustangs recorded an incredible 3-2 regulation win in game two on Sunday 1st July at the IceArenA.
After a baptism of fire in his first three AIHL games conceding 18 goals in his first three games, only allowing two from 38 in an amazing turn around. Adelaide did outshot the Mustangs 38 to 24 and for much of the game held greater possession inside the Mustangs zone.
Besides putting pucks into Adelaide’s net, the Mustangs won the boards and the loose puck. Adelaide at times seemed flat waiting for something to happen and it was the Mustangs who made something happen with their opportunities. Fortune favours the brave and the Mustangs show their intent from the outset.
Being first to the loose puck gives you every opportunity to make something happen.
Mustangs scored in each period with Jake Ebner finding the back of the net twice and Brendon McDowell with his second period goal. Ryan Bennett continued some good work at the back and Valdim Virjassov had an outstanding game. Chris James and Captain Shane Hardy were honest performers all weekend.
Adelaide’s scored early in the first through James Keane who this weekend started to find some of the form seen in the second half of last season. But that was to be it until deep into the third, a power play goal with just under two minutes of regulation left via Captain Greg Oddy.
Until this point the Mustangs seemed to have Adelaide’s measure not giving them the freedom they did the night before. This bought a tense final 1:58 as Adelaide pressed to find the equalizer but was to be denied and ultimately frustrated, with tensions boiling over at the end of the game.
Adelaide seemed to lack the voice, structure and hunger they possessed only a day ago, with a Mustangs forward many times sitting in behind Adelaide’s defense waiting for that quick turnover. Adelaide’s Defenseman Nick Clark was solid early and David Huxley’s size and strength seemed too much for the Mustangs to handle at times.
Adelaide must now wait until the 21st and 22nd where the travel to Canberra, then Sydney to face the Ice Dogs, then a week later to Newcastle, then back to Sydney for the Bears.
These will be testing times for Adelaide facing Bauer rivals Sydney Ice Dogs and the red hot North Stars. This may well go some way to determine the possible fate of Adelaide’s season in two tough road trips back to back.
In other results for Sunday 1st July:
The Sydney Ice Dogs collapsed 1-9 to Eastern Conference and league leaders the Melbourne Ice at the Medibank Icehouse. Due to delays in transport services coming across from Perth in Western Australia, the Ice Dogs didn’t make it to the Icehouse until minutes before the start of the game. Melbourne were already on the ice in for the pre-game warm up. Unfortunately for the Ice Dogs their night didn’t get any better, except for rookie Jamie Blazevic scoring the only goal and his first ever in the AIHL.
The Newcastle North Stars popped over to Baulkham Hills in Sydney to take on a revitalised Bears outfit still smarting from their shoot-out win in Brisbane. The Bears led 3-1 into the third and looking to make it a six point weekend for the first time this season. Newcastle had other ideas as they went on to score 3 final period goals, one of which coming in the final minute of regulation.
Next weekend 7-8 July there is no AIHL action as for the first time, a Trans Tasman Champions League tournament is being held in Melbourne at the Medibank Icehouse.
A brand new concept between the AIHL and NZIHL will feature the top two teams from each leagues 2011 season.
Australia’s Melbourne Ice and Newcastle North Stars will host New Zealand’s Botany Swarm and Southern Stampede for this inaugural trophy, so look out for updates.
We then see the regular AIHL season resume on the 14-15 of July:
Sydney Bears @ Perth Thunder, Melbourne Ice @ Newcastle North Stars in the match of the weekend and Canberra Knights @ Gold Coast Blue Tongues on the Saturday.
Sunday sees two games with Sydney Bears @ Melbourne Mustangs and Melbourne Ice @ Sydney Ice Dogs.
Contact Michael.Rozleja@prohockeynews.com
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