Posted: 26 May, 2013
The Melbourne Ice returned to form with a big victory.
(Lliam Webster in action for the Melbourne Ice against the Canberra Knights during week six of the Australian Ice Hockey League. PICTURE: Jack Geraghty.)
The Melbourne Ice put on a dominant display as the three-time AIHL champions returned to form with a scintillating showcase on Saturday evening to wipe the Canberra Knights off the ice, 9-1.
John Gordon scored a hat-trick for the home team, opening with the game's first goal inside the first two minutes on a solo effort to tick the scoreboard over early.
Captain Jason Baclig took advantage of the power play to put the Ice ahead 2-0, assisted by Matt Armstrong and Gordon, before again scoring soon after on another power play to extend the lead out to 3-0, assisted by Lliam Webster, as the Ice kept attacking and putting pressure on the Knights defense.
Gordon scored twice within 14 seconds in the second period as the Ice lead ballooned out to 5-0, and when Armstrong scored just twenty seconds later, on another power play, the Ice had a 6-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
The Knights responded with their lone goal, Justin Levac putting enough stick on the puck to see it just cross the line for a score.
The Ice made it 7-1 early in the final period when Webster scored on the power play, and Joey Hughes made it 8-1 with 12:39 left to play when he scored short handed.
Chris Frank scored the final goal for the Ice, as the home team won comfortably over the Knights, 9-1.
Gordon finishing with six points, (3 goals, 3 assists), while Hughes four points (1 goal, 3 assists), Baclig three points (2 goals, 1 assist), Webster three points (1 goal, 2 assists) and Tommy Powell, three assists, all looked impressive as the Ice flaunted their potent offense.
On Sunday the Knights backed up with a game against the Melbourne Mustangs, but were unable to capture any points from the weekend.
The Mustangs triumphant 5-3 with Jamie Bourke scoring a hat-trick, the last goal with an empty net with 18 seconds to play after the Knights pulled their goalie in a last ditch effort to score.
Andrew Fitzgerald opened the scoring for the Mustangs on Sunday afternoon and Bourke scored to give the home team a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The Knights scored twice early in the second period before Brendan McDowell put the Mustangs back in front, and then Bourke flashed some brilliance to sneak one around the goalie and extend the lead to 4-2.
The Knights scored the opening goal of the final period, but couldn't find that next goal. Bourke's final goal sealing the victory, 5-3, for the Mustangs.
On Saturday night the Sydney Ice Dogs had 43 saves from Anthony Kimlin in between the pipes as they picked up a 5-3 victory over the Perth Thunder in the Wild West.
Matt Puntereri scored a hat-trick for the Ice Dogs, as the high scoring forward continued his sublime start to the season.
In Newcastle Beau Taylor scored five points, including two goals, as the Newcastle North Stars defeated the Adelaide Adrenaline 7-4.
Dominic Osman also scored two goals for the North Stars.
A bizarre clash between players saw Adelaide's Charlie Huber taken off the ice on a stretcher after a very heavy fall.
Huber received a concussion but was in better spirits the next day.
The Adrenaline backed up with their second road game of the weekend, but again were unable to come away with a victory.
The Sydney Bears were too good for the Adrenaline on Sunday, victorious 6-2, and remain in the top four on the AIHL standings.
The Perth Thunder and Sydney Ice Dogs played again on Sunday evening.
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Tags: AIHL, Melbourne Ice, Melbourne Mustangs, Canberra Knights, Newcastle North Stars, Perth Thunder, Sydney Ice Dogs, Sydney Bears, Adelaide Adrenaline
