RECAP: Adrenaline get off to rough start in Melbourne

Not much went right in the first period of the Adrenaline's season opener vs. the Melbourne Ice on Saturday evening. 

Five Ice goals, including a hat-trick from import Dillon Lawrence, put Adelaide in a massive hole that they were unable to recover from. The Adrenaline were down 5-0 after one and ultimately fell 8-0.

Adelaide continues to struggle vs. the Melbourne Ice having now lost 12 in a row vs. the reigning champs. The last win vs. Melbourne was in May 2015.

Adelaide skated with the Ice for the first five minutes before Lawrence scored his first off a poor turnover. He was left alone to skate in from the blue-line to make it 1-0.

Starter Sebastian Andersson struggled in his first game from the Adrenaline. He made a couple really nice saves but was battling the puck all period. 

Despite keeping it to only a 2-0 game until late in the first, it was an Adelaide power play that saw the team unravel. While shorthanded Lawrence scooped up the book, burned a defenseman and scored a nice goal with yet another quick release to make it 3-0. Adelaide was left bruised and rattled and suddenly it was 5-0.

In the second period 20-year-old South Aussie Glen Forbes-White entered the game and went to work in net in replacement of Andersson. Forbes-White made some excellent saves, only to be beaten by former Adrenaline forward Cas Delsar on a breakaway that let the goalie with no chance. 

Adelaide actually controlled most of the play but a couple posts and couple nice saves from Ice goalie Mike James left it 6-0 after second. 

Unfortunately the game continued downhill for the visitors. Forward Andrew Stapleton got hit and tumbled awkwardly into the boards and cut his elbow, receiving stitches post-game. Forward Ryan Foll got a high-stick and also needed stitches. Forward Sami Mantere got hit, fell into the boards and lost a skate blade.
 

Early in the third, import Ales Kratoska took a hit to the face from Melbourne Ice player Todd Graham. With no penalty called, Kratoska retaliated but earned himself a five minute major and a game misconduct. For most of the last period the Adrenaline were down three forwards (Kratoska, Foll, Stapleton) and Sami Mantere had no skates.

Caleb Apperson was impressive on debut and generated some chances but Melbourne piled two more on. 

8-0 is your final score from Saturday.

The Adrenaline seek to rebound Sunday afternoon at 3:30PM Adelaide time vs. the Melbourne Mustangs. Stay tuned for our facebook page for a livestream link.

Adelaide open their home schedule next weekend vs the Sydney Ice Dogs on April 28/29. Get your tickets now at http://bit.ly/adrenalinetickets.