Perth, WA – After a close battle the night before, the Thunder once again clashed with the Ice Dogs and produced one of the biggest wins in the teams young history.
As expected, both teams came out flying in the 1st Period, but again, Perth Thunder was able to tilt the ice in their direction, sustaining pressure in the Ice Dogs zone. With the game less than two minutes old, Thunder captain, Sam Wilson (4), would bat home the first goal of the game, and his second of the season. Michael Forney (7) threw the puck on net, looking for a bounce, and got it. It didn’t take Wilson long to find the loose puck and slip it past the keeper.
The Thunder didn’t take their foot off the gas and kept coming in waves. After a hooking penalty to the Ice Dogs Tomas Manco (8), the Thunder had the man advantage and the team was able to move the puck around the zone well. Cycling from behind the net, Forney was able to find Joe Tolles (27) moving in from the left point and once Tolles had the puck on his blade, he didn’t think twice about shooting it high glove over Anthony Kimlin’s (1) shoulder. Goal. Score 2-0.
The Ice Dogs team was showing signs of frustration, but this experienced squad soon found there composure and were able to close the gap with a powerplay goal while Brad Young (5) was serving a penalty for hooking. The goal, scored by Joel Rhodes (9), would be the Ice Dogs only tally in the first.
With only three minutes remaining in the period, Ric Del Basso (12) found Michael Forney building up speed on the breakout and sent the puck across ice with a crisp saucer pass. Forney used his speed to power past the Ice Dogs Blue Liners and sniped one of the tightest shots the home crowd has ever seen. The crowd erupted, almost not believing the puck had gone in on such a tight, distant shot. Score 3-1.
The second period opened and it was expected that the Ice Dogs would start to mount a comeback. Just like a junkyard dog, this team has a lot of fight. The fight would be postponed though, as less than a minute into the period, Matt Strueby (20) continued the scoring for Perth Thunder, sniping a beautiful backhand shot pass Kimlin.
The Ice Dogs would respond a few minutes later, with Tyler Kubara (21) beating Thunder goaltender, Michael Smart (1).
After a couple of penalties, the Thunder were two men down and faced a 5-3 penalty kill. With penalty killers Jordy Kyros (23) and Tolles in the box, it didn’t look good for the home side. The Ice Dogs moved the puck well, but couldn’t find a lane. Smart stood big in net and made a number of key saves. The crowd grew even louder after the huge kill by the Thunder.
The teams would continue to battle, but the score would remain 4-2 to close the second term.
The first half of the extended final period was a hard fought battle by both teams. The Thunder were not satisfied to protect the lead and continued to attack in waves. However, the Ice Dogs were definitely up for the battle and the ice was tilted slightly in their favour as they desperately tried to even up the score.
Matt Puntereri (23) would kick start the comeback with a huge goal for the visiting team. Not to be outdone, Forney responded quickly, with another goal to make the score 5-3.
With less than 7 Minutes on the clock, the Ice Dogs continued to pressure the Thunder. The team looked nervous on the bench, but on the ice, they played well and were able to finally strike with Paul Baranzelli (22) moving them to within a goal.
Two minutes later, the Ice Dogs would strike again to tie the game 5-5. Scottish Import Paddy Ward (4) would ruin the home-town party as the Ice Dogs bench erupted. With the comeback complete, it was now a tied game and the final 4 minutes of the period were ferocious. Neither team wanted to go to overtime; they wanted the win in regulation.
With less than half a minute remaining on the clock, it looked like the game was heading for overtime, when the Thunder entered the zone.
Cycling the puck, Forney sent a pass up to the point to find Sam Wilson, who didn’t waste any time and threw the puck on net. The puck landed on Kimlin’s left pad and bounced into the crease, where a driving Strueby was able to find the loose puck and hammer home the game winner!
The Canadian import, in only his fourth game with the Thunder, threw his fists into the air as Thunder captain Sam Wilson joined the celebration. With that goal, he cemented himself in Perth Thunder history as the side went on to record the first home win for the 2013 Season.
The Ice Dogs, in only their second lost of the season, were gracious in defeat and both sides agreed that it was a fantastic game of hockey.
While the imports of Forney, Strueby and Tolles put the rest of the league on official notice, scoring 5 of the 6 goals, the local players battled hard. Andrew Cox, after a quiet start to the season, played a fast, energetic game and found a lot more time and space to move the puck.
Veteran Dave Ruck, showed no signs of giving up in the third period, throwing some of the biggest checks of the game and generating some close scoring opportunities.
With the win, Perth Thunder moved up two places in the standings to 6th and are knocking on the door of the top four. With 20 games remaining, and 60 points still up for grabs, the season is only just beginning.
GAME STATS
Shots on Goal: 37 (Thunder) – 32 (Ice Dogs
Goal Scorers (Thunder): Strueby 2 (20), Forney 2 (7), Tolles (6), Sam Wilson (4).
Goal Scorers (Ice Dogs): Joel Rhodes (9), Tyler Kubara (21), Puntereri (23), Paul Baranzelli (22), Paddy Ward (4)
Perth Thunder travels to Melbourne this weekend to face the Melbourne Mustangs on the 1st and 2nd of June.