Adrenaline ride Grove's hat-trick to overpower Ice Dogs

originally published on theaihl.com.au

The Adelaide Adrenaline offence powered past the Sydney Ice Dogs on the back of a Tyler Grove second period hat-trick to split the weekend with a 6-2 win at the Liverpool Catholic Club Sports Complex on Sunday night.
 
After leading 1-0 at the end of the first period, Grove showed the class that has him in the top five point scorers in the league in 2015, scoring his three goals in just under four-and-a-half minutes.
 
Adelaide coach Ryan O’Handley was impressed with his sides performance, bouncing back after an 8-2 loss to the CBR Brave on Saturday night.
 
“We skated well today; we didn’t skate well yesterday,” O’Handley said. “We’re a quick team up front, but if we don’t use our speed, we’re not going to have success. Tonight we skated well and we’re really pleased with the outcome.”
 
The Ice Dogs were bolstered with the addition of the two key imports, American Ryan Strayer and Canadian Kevin Harvey, who was selected by the Calgary Flames in the 9th round (270th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
 
“They bring a lot of offence and speed to our team,” said Ice Dogs captain Brian Funes. “They get their feet pumping and really get pucks deep in the offensive zones, which really helps us generate chances, but we were just unlucky not to finish tonight.”
 
Adelaide forward Wehebe Darge was the only scorer in a tight checking first period, sending the visitors to the break with a one-goal lead.
 
Ice Dogs goalie Matt Grogan played a key role in the first period, making a number of key saves.
 
Grogan stopped 31 of 37 shots on the night before being replaced late in the third period by youngster Jake Burgess, who was solid in net, stopping all 10 shots he faced.
 
While at the other end, Adelaide goalie Peter King recorded his first win of the season, stopping 20 of 22 shots.
 
“We got a little bit loose in the third, which can happen when you have a lead and Kinger had to make some big saves,” O’Handley said. “He’s played well for us all year, and it was really good for him to get his first win tonight. He battles hard and competes every night and I’m really happy for him.”
 
The second period was the Tyler Grove show.
 
Grove recorded a natural hat-trick to break the game wide open.
 
Grove’s speed and skill on the puck was too much for the young Ice Dogs defence, who spent most of the second period on their heels.
 
The Ice Dogs started the third period on the attack and pushed hard to get back into the game, but they caught Adelaide deep in their own zone, with Graham Charbonneau capitalising on a turnover to make it 5-0 to the visitors.
 
The Ice Dog kept their heads up and showed there was still plenty of the fight in the home side.
 
Two quick goals to 17-year old Cameron Smith and import Ryan Strayer breathed life into the contest and got the crowd back into the game.
 
For both players it was their first goals in the AIHL.
 
However, six seconds after the Strayer goal, Adelaide captain Greg Oddy, dashed any chances of a comeback and the visitors held on for the win.
 
The two sides won’t have to wait long to see each other again, this weekend the Ice Dogs travel to Adelaide to face the Adrenaline in important double header for both sides as they look to kept touch with teams at the top of the standings.
 
After only two of his side’s 10 games, O’Handley believes a little home cooking will do his side a world of good.
 
“We’re to going to recuperate this week. We’re banged up pretty bad,” O’Handley said. “We’ve been on the road a lot this year and it will be nice to play a couple at home in front of our fans.”