After a long two-week break, the Adelaide Adrenaline return to the ice at home this Sunday against the Melbourne Mustangs as they attempt mount their final challenge for a berth in the 2015 AIHL Finals.
With only seven games remaining in the regular season schedule, including tough home weekends against league pace-setters the Perth Thunder and the Newcastle North Stars, the Adrenaline cannot afford to drop points at home against the Mustangs.
The Adrenaline currently sit four points out of a finals spot but with two games in hand on the fourth placed CBR Brave, the stage is set for a enthralling end to the regular season.
Despite struggling for much of the season, the defending AIHL champions have found form of late with four consecutive victories building momentum leading into the vital Sunday clash at the Ice Arena.
The momentum of the visitors will be of concern to the Adrenaline who have not played since July 12
th and coach Ryan O’Handley said the side needs to be wary of the effects of a long break during the regular season.
“Two weeks is too long, that’s an issue with the scheduling, we have to plan, we have to get to work, maybe reset the switch… come back and play hard down the home stretch,” O’Handley said.
The Adrenaline will also hope to be motivated by the previous meeting between the two sides, which they lost 6-2 in a disappointing performance at home.
The game on Sunday is the second of four meetings between the two sides this season and the last at home for the Adrenaline before the two sides meet again in Melbourne in the middle of August.
Puck-drop is 3.30pm this Sunday August 2
nd at the Thebarton Ice Arena in Adelaide, a clash that looks make or break for the Adrenaline’s season.
BRAVE
ICE
NORTHSTARS
THUNDER
MUSTANGS
LIGHTNING
ADRENALINE
RHINOS
