Adrenaline Dominate Brave Despite Late Comeback

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After a disappointing home stand against the Melbourne Ice last weekend, the Adrenaline got off to a flyer in the first of two games this weekend against the CBR Brave, beating the visitors by a resounding 11-7.
 
It was a high-scoring, exciting and physical affair that the Adrenaline dominated for two periods before allowing the travelling Brave side a foot in the door in the third period.
 
Despite the Brave’s resurgence, the Adrenaline had the game by the throat having all but sealed the victory by the second intermission off the back of some sparkling individual performances.
 
Wehebe Darge and Josh Harding were outstanding, both scoring hat-tricks by the second period and Jonathan Boxill once again showed just how crucial a member of the Adrenaline side he is with a goal and five assists.
 
Looking to address a number of recent slow starts, the Adrenaline looked a different side when they stepped on to the ice against the Brave, piling on the early goals to take a 4-0 lead halfway through the first period.
 
Despite the Brave managing to wrestle back two goals, the opening frame belonged to the home side, who took what was ultimately an insurmountable 5-2 lead into the first intermission.
 
Coach Ryan O’Handley lauded praise upon his side for the way they came out the gate but noted comebacks such as the Brave manufactured are tough to guard against in games that are won so early on.
 
“Those games are really tough to coach, you go in with a big lead in the third period and it’s pretty easy for guys to lose focus and we did a bit… it was a lot close than it probably should have been,” O’Handley said.
 
Keen to point out positives rather than negatives, O’Handley praised the team’s execution of its game plan and was markedly relived his side once again regained the scoring tough that has eluded them of late.
 
“We got pucks deep early and we were winning the puck race, we put a lot of pressure on their defence…It’s nice to get the monkey off the back as far as scoring goals, so hopefully that can carry over to tomorrow,” O’Handley said.
 
With now only eight games remaining on the schedule, the Adrenaline have managed a little breathing room ahead of the Brave but will need another win tomorrow if they are any hope of continuing their charge towards the finals.
 
Both the Adrenaline and the Brave will likely be without key players tomorrow after a bench-clearing melee that saw the game ended with 8 seconds left on the clock, a brawl that will more than likely net both sides suspensions.
 
Game time is 3.30PM Sunday at the Ice Arena. Tickets available online via our website or at the door.