Adrenaline Down Reining Champ Mustangs in Shootout Thriller

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An epic Sunday encounter at the Thebarton Ice Arena saw the Adelaide Adrenaline came up big to secure an enthralling shootout victory over the reigning Australian Ice Hockey League champions, the Melbourne Mustangs.
 
The most important win of the season for the Adrenaline was also their most entertaining as the high-scoring game took the players, fans and coaches from both sides on an emotional rollercoaster ride.
 
Adelaide forward Joseph Rezek, who had a goal and an assist within the first minute of the game, praised the side’s effort in winning the game but noted the game should not have been a close as it was.
 
“We were 4-1 on top and we thought it was pretty much done, we slowed down and let them play again and they showed us the game was not done, they tied it up and we were lucky we won,” Rezek said.
 
For most in attendance, the game looked done and dusted early as the Adrenaline continued their recent run of blistering starts, opening the scoring within the first 15 seconds and adding another goal before the first minute of the game was played.
 
Adrenaline coach Ryan O’Handley praised his side’s dominant start but said they need to be wary of getting too emotionally involved and letting opponents back into games.
 
“We have started the last three games really well… our problem is we are getting too emotionally high and it’s that emotional rollercoaster… we’ve got to push hard out of the gate but when we get a lead we have got learn how to control our emotions,” O’Handley said.
 
The game was indeed back and forth, with the Adrenaline leading by as many as four goals to one early in the first period before the visitors brought it back to 5-3 by the first break.
 
The second period saw nerves settle as both teams found more a groove after a hectic opening to the game but it was the Mustangs who had the better of the middle frame, clawing to defecit back to one goal to trail 6-5 at the second break.
 
With two early third period goals, the visitors hit the lead before a last ditch equaliser from Josh Harding tied the game with only 1:30 remaining to take the contest to a shootout.
 
The win looms as massive for the Adrenaline’s season, with only six games remaining on the schedule and sitting one spot out of a finals berth, it was a game they could simply not afford to lose.
 
A big task lies ahead for the Adrenaline, as they face up for two home games against the league-leading Newcastle North Stars next weekend in Adelaide.
 
Game times are 4.30pm Saturday and 3.30pm Sunday with tickets available online or at the door for two games that are sure to be sell-outs.