Darge and in Charge

---

A flu-riddled Wehebe Darge continued his impressive play as late, scoring twice to help lead the Adrenaline to a 5-4 win over the finals-bound Perth Thunder 5-4 at home on Saturday afternoon.

But, as usual, the Adrenaline didn't make it easy on themselves. 

The Adrenaline raced out to a 3-0 lead before visitors battled back to turn it into a hotly contested affair.

"We like to do things the hard way," says Adrenaline head coach Ryan O'Handley. "But at the end of the day we pulled out the win and it was a good effort from everyone."

The Adrenaline were short-handed after the departure of imports Tyler Grove and Jonathan Boxill. It didn't matter as Wehebe Darge continued his torrid pace, potting two goals to give him 8 in his last 3 games. Joey Rezek scored twice for Adelaide too.

"Those two have been unbelieveable for us," says O'Handley. "Really stepped up their game."

To make matters worse, both were extremely ill. Rezek could barely stand after the game and Wehebe Darge said he felt like he didn't have his legs.

Regardless, it was Darge who opened the scoring late in the first with a great individual effort.

Rezek padded the lead and added two goals early in the second to put Adelaide up 3-0. 

But a Tyson Boyd double-minor penalty gave the Perth Thunder life. Luc Daigneault scored off a rebound with the man-advantage and then 23 seconds later Alex Hudson tipped in a Greg Hyde point shot.

3-2 Adrenaline. Game on.

But the plucky Adrenaline kept grinding away. Ryan Remillard finished off a good physical shift on a line with Greg Oddy and Darren Corstens and batted home a goal on a great second effort.

Then, Pete King started to shine. The Adelaide goalie denied multiple opportunities - including an Alex Hudson break away, two great chances in front of the net from Kyros, and a Luc Daigneault snipe - to keep Adelaide up. 

Perth would strike again late to cut the lead back down to 4-3. 

But Darge showed he was in charge by deking out the entire Thunder team to find the back of the net. 

Darge's 21st and 22nd goal of the season continues a career high in goals for him in the AIHL. He added an assist to give him 43 points on the season. Darge is the first player not-named Greg Oddy to score more than 40 points in a season.

"It's pretty cool to be among legends. I'll let him know I'm at the same level as him," Darge jokingly said at the end of the game. 

A rare King blunder gave Perth a goal late but it didn't matter. Home win for the Adrenaline. 

Adelaide rounds out the season on Sunday afternoon at 3:30.

"It's important we finish strong, get ready for next season," says head coach Ryan O'Handley.