Preview: Wehebe returns home

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The Adelaide Adrenaline, presented by Hards Transport, will look to keep their finals hopes alive with two must win games vs. the CBR Brave this weekend. 

The Adrenaline have 19 points are chasing CBR who have 28 points. Two wins would put the Adrenaline in striking distance. It's a long shot but still a shot. 

Please note that Sunday's game now starts at 4:00PM. You can purchase your tickets at www.tryboooking.com/pftr.

Here are things to pay attention to this weekend.

WEHEBE DARGE RETURN AND CBR LOSING STREAK ADDS INTRIGUE TO WEEKEND

In 2016 Wehebe Darge, an Adelaide-born player, won the AIHL MVP while playing for the Adrenaline. After eight seasons with the club, Wehebe controversially took his talents to the ACT to play for the CBR Brave making them instant premiership favourites. 

After a hot start the Brave are sputtering. They've lost four games in a row - all to the Perth Thunder - and a once commanding lead near the top of the table has pushed them back to the pack. Two losses for the CBR Brave this weekend would be devastating with four games vs. the league leading Melbourne Ice on the cards the rest of the season. 

The Adrenaline can keep their slim finals hopes alive with two wins but they pretty much need to run the table to get in the playoffs. That said, there will be plenty of intrigue and certainly no love lost between Darge and the Adrenaline. Adelaide would love to pile on a win against the latest controversial interstate transfer. 

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK

The Adelaide Adrenaline, proudly presented by Hards Transport, travelled to New South Wales for their final games of the season vs. the Newcastle Northstars and Sydney Bears. 

Adelaide has started to give increased play time to their younger players to make way for the next generation. With it comes great positives and huge learning opportunities. On Saturday the Adrenaline led the Northstars 3-1 after two periods and played a solid two-way game. It all unravelled in the third when the defending champs piled six straight goals on the Adrenaline to win the game 7-4.

On Sunday the Adrenaline responded with a 2-0 win over the Sydney Ice Dogs to put a dent in their playoff hopes. Cam Critchlow and Greg Oddy scored while import goalie Matt Murphy registered his first shutout of the season. 

LAST TIME THEY MET

Adelaide upset the Brave in Canberra in June. It was a wild 8-5 contest that saw a lot of remarkable moments. This includes:
- Jake Riley's first AIHL goal
- Zach Boyle scoring twice vs. his former team
- Matt Murphy stopping 63

We'll need another repeat performance!

KEY THINGS TO WATCH

Keep an eye on if coach Sami Mantere gives some increased playing time to the 'depth' youngsters. Last week Jordan Geyer got his first regular shift and was impressive as Adelaide blanked the Ice Dogs 2-0. 

21-year-old Zach Boyle also was impressive last time he played the CBR Brave. He scored two goals and an assist in a 8-5 win in Canberra in June. 

Further, 17-year-olds Marcel McGuiness and Jake Riley had incredible chemistry and a hardworking attitude in a fantastic weekend away. 

For CBR you have to watch their star import Geordie Wudrick. He had a record 93 point season in 2015 and is dominant again this season. Of course keep your eye on #9 Wehebe Darge!

STATS AND LEADERS - ADELAIDE 
 

#	PLAYER NAME	P	GP	G	A	PTS	P/G	PP	SH	GW	PIM
11	Cameron Critchlow	F	18	16	14	30	1.7	3	1	1	12
19	Josef Rezek	F	17	12	13	25	1.5	2	2	0	4
10	Greg Oddy	F	19	10	8	18	0.9	4	1	1	18
5	Casey Babineau	D	20	6	11	17	0.9	2	1	0	28
13	Cole MacMillan	F	12	4	11	15	1.3	0	0	0	6
18	Ales Kratoska	F	9	6	7	13	1.4	1	0	0	24
12	Darren Corstens	F	14	5	5	10	0.7	2	0	0	10

STATS AND LEADERS - CBR

#	PLAYER NAME	P	GP	G	A	PTS	P/G	PP	SH	GW	PIM
88	Geordie Wudrick	F	15	11	21	32	2.1	2	1	1	14
71	Dominic Jalbert	D	18	7	23	30	1.7	0	0	1	62
42	Brian Bales	C	15	6	24	30	2.0	3	0	0	8
24	Jan Safar	D	18	7	16	23	1.3	4	0	2	18
73	Stephen Blunden	F	8	10	11	21	2.6	2	0	1	10
9	Wehebe Darge	F	9	6	7	13