Adrenaline trap Bears

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The Hards Transport Adelaide Adrenaline used a David Huxley shootout goal to down the Sydney Bears 3-2 on the road. 

It was a fantastic effort from the Adrenaline who were missing eight players - including two of their leading scorers - due to suspension, injury or illness. Adelaide won their second straight game and swept the Sydney road trip to keep their finals hopes alive.

It was never easy for the Adrenaline. The visitors built up a 2-0 lead only to see it vanish late in the third period. 

Adelaide used a clutch performance in net from Peter King to limit the Bears until late in the game. Goals from Adelaide's Cole MacMillan and Darren Corstens propelled the Adrenaline ahead. 

But two late goals from the Bears forced a decisive shootout. 

Adelaide used four shooters in the tie-breaker, with David Huxley scoring the winning goal, and two of them were defenseman. In an unconventional move head coach Eric Lien opted to use Gabe O'Connor, David Huxley - both defenseman - along with snipers Greg Oddy and Wehebe Darge. As it happens, Darge and Oddy missed while the defenseman came through with the goods.

Pete King was excellent in net for Adelaide and called upon on numerous occasions to win the game for the South Aussies. 

RECAP
 

Adelaide continued their happy momentum from Saturday night's win with a goal in the opening two minutes. Cole MacMillan opened the game with a goal to compliment his three assists from Saturday's affair.

Other than the MacMillan strike the first period had no other scoring. 

Both teams had their feet moving which made for an entertaining brand of hockey. Good rushes from the Bears were usually brought to a stop by the Adrenaline's imposing defence. 

Adelaide held their nerve and kept cycling the puck and limited the chances on the back-end. It was finally a period of relatively turnover free hockey. 

In the second period the Bears did not challenge Adelaide goalie Peter King often, but he was tested enough to stay sharp making a few key saves along the way.

On the other end of the rink, Adelaide could sustain pressure but had a hard time navigating the Sydney defence. Their true scoring chances were sparse and all they could do was hold their 1-0 into the third period.

With the game in the balance entering the third, the Adrenaline cranked up the pressure looking for a vital insurance marker. 

It took multiple odd-man-rushes but finally the Adrenaline broke through. Wehebe Darge created a turn-over and went two-on-one with Darren Corstens towards the Bears' goal.

All it took was a nice Darge to Corstens pass and a beautiful shot to the back of the goal to put Adelaide up 2-0. 

But just as they did on Saturday night vs. the Ice Dogs, the Adrenaline let the lead slip.

With 6 minutes remaining, Michael Schlamp used a screen in front of King to cut the Adrenaline lead in half.

Then, with 3 minutes left, veteran Tomas Landa powered one by King to tie the game up at two.

What ensued was a frantic finish with both teams battling for lose pucks, both sides creating chances and both goaltenders repeatedly denying their attackers.

In the shootout, Gabe O'Connor went upstairs to give Adelaide an advantage in the second round. But Sydney's second shooter fooled King to tie the decider up. 

With the score tied at the end of three shooters, David Huxley stepped in for the Adrenaline and powered one past Bears goalie Anthony Kimlin. 

All the pressure was suddenly on Pete King. With a bit of nerve and an aggressive angle, Pete King stymied Bears shooter Ryan Annesley.

Adrenaline win, Adrenaline win, Adrenaline win!

Adelaide is now back in the driver's seat to make the finals and face a crucial test next weekend against a team their chasing - the Newcastle North Stars.

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