The Agile Group Adelaide Adrenaline may have lost 6-3 to the reigning champion CBR Brave, but the team showed signs of improvement in their home opening loss.

The Adrenaline were looking to right the ship after two losses to open the season in Melbourne but had to face the previous seasons Goodall Cup champions, the Canberra Brave.

It was never going to be an easy task. If it's even possible, Adelaide coach Jim Fuyarchuk said post game that CBR look even better than the 25-3 side that won the Goodall Cup last year.

“Canberra are definitely even better this year. But I thought we played really well too. The score is not indicative of how well we played,” he said. 

That should give Adrenaline faithful even more signs for hope, as the Adrenaline matched the CBR intensity for most of the game, and were never out of it until the final minute, even when going down.

Adelaide tried to set the tone early. 

The opening period of the game was a physical affair, shown off by Adelaide import defenseman  Alexandre Gauthier hip-checking a Brave player into oblivion on the half-wall. It was a nice way to set the tone. 

But the CBR proved why they are the reigning champs, pouring on 15 shots on goal and scoring on two of those chances. Adelaide played tight, but CBR took advantage of their only "glorious" opportunites they had.

The first goal coming from a sneaky 5-hole shot on a mini-breakaway off a blunder from the Adelaide defense.

The Brave’s second goal was shrouded in controversy as the power-play goal was scored after the end of period buzzer had sounded, however the officials didn’t hear it and play continued. 

After a protest from Adrenaline skipper Josef Rezek, the referees huddled and decided that the goal counted and with that, the Adrenaline were down 2 with 0.01 seconds left in the period. Hard luck!

The second frame, however, was a sluggish period for the Adrenaline as they struggled to maintain offensive zone possession and haemorrhaged shots against. Canberra scored early again on a power play to extend the lead to 3-0 putting Adelaide in a hole.

Adrenaline defenseman Andrew Zolotarev lamented about the second period.

“There were a few lapses in our defensive zone with coverage mistakes and letting shots go in too easy. They seemed to get shots in and tip-ins and generate lots of chances from rebounds,” he said. 

However, the Brave netminder Alex Tetreault allowed some juicy rebounds of his own. At one point he saved two goals with Adrenaline forwards right on his doorstep. Adelaide just couldn’t convert. 

But the Brave goaltender's rebound luck ran out as Adelaide’s Ales Kratoska tucked home the puck after the puck bounced off the goalie’s pads from a Steve Best shot. 

That made it 3-1. Late in the period, CBR scored to bring the lead back to three and make it 4-1 heading into the final period. 

The Adrenaline found themselves on the power-play early in the 3^rd period but struggled again to cycle the puck effectively and get shots on net. The Braves PK was to effective and forced the Adrenaline to shoot the puck from the outside lanes.

Frustration for the home team continued as the Brave’s scored another tip-in from the point, again on the power-play to make it 5-1.

But the Adrenaline weren’t going down without a fight. They showed, heart, hustle and character and made a game of it.

Within a blink of an eye the pesky Adrenaline scored two goals via Steve Best and a solo effort from Ales Kratoska on a bank shot from behind the goal. The two goals in 11 seconds put Adelaide back in the game and CBR on their heals. 

It’s encouraging signs from a young Adrenaline team who appeared down and out.

After a bit of pressure, Canberra’s Andy Camenzind scored with 1.52 left to put the final nail in the coffin. 

Despite the loss, Adrenaline goalie Jesse Gordichuck says the team is ready for tomorrow.

“Mindset for the game tomorrow is to win. Not all goals are going to come pretty, we have to be selfish and shoot the puck more,” he said.

Adelaide will look to pull off the upset at 4:30PM at the Ice Arena.

Tickets still available online.