Adrenaline respond - Ice too strong

The Adelaide Adrenaline, proudly presented by Hards Transport, closed their first 2017 road trip with a 8-5 loss to the Melbourne Ice.

The Adrenaline showed a strong response from Saturday’s game, but fell away late after the Ice scored three unanswered goals in the third to push the lead out of reach and sweep their home series.

Import Cameron Critchlow scored his first goal of the season on the first shot of the game just 43 seconds in. Before the Adrenaline had much of a chance to celebrate, the Ice responded just 21 seconds later with one of their own, sneaking past goalie Pete King to tie up the game 1-1.

Critchlow added his second goal of the game a few minutes later to make it 2-1. A holding penalty and then a separate interference call shortly afterwards on King sent the Adrenaline into a 5-3 penalty kill.

The Ice snuck one past to equalise the scores 2-2 at the end of the first, going goal for goal with the Adrenaline.

Less than two minutes into the second the Ice were awarded a penalty shot after Morgan McNeill impeded a Mitch Humphries breakaway, but the Melbourne forward failed to capitalise.

The Adrenaline was on the back foot, forced to shut down another two penalties (McNeill; hooking and Zach Boyle; slashing). The Adrenaline penalty kill was working, shutting down the middle lane, preventing any strong scoring opportunities.

A scrambling Jason Baclig goal was the lone score in the second period, Melbourne taking a one goal lead to the final break.

The third period saw a return to the pace of the opening stanza. Critchlow netted his third goal of the game and his first hat trick for the Adrenaline, bringing the scores to 3-3.

The Ice responded again, and again... and again. A run of three goals in four minutes setting an enormous mountain to climb for the Adrenaline. The second penalty shot of the game set the score at 6-3 with 8 minutes to play. 

If that wasn't enough of a challenge, a Paul Baranzelli mid air strike breezed past King, taking the score to 7-3.

A third penalty shot for the game was this time awarded to the Adrenaline, with Cole MacMillian showing off his now-signature shootout move, making the tender move before guiding it ever-so-softly around his pads.

There was still hope. 

Critchlow sunk his fourth for the night thanks to a superb Josef Rezek feed, but the Ice was determined to put a halt to the rush.

With just under two minutes to go, Peter King vacated the net for the empty net. The Adrenaline were hemmed in their end, an with ten seconds remaining, an open net goal clinched the 8-5 win for the Ice.

Overall, it was an improved performance by the Adrenaline, but ultimately it was a failure to react to the increase in effort by Melbourne that sealed the game.

The Adrenaline return to the IceArenA next weekend, hosting the Sydney Ice Dogs.

If last weekend is anything to go by, this is not a game you want to miss. It is looking like another sell out crowd, so get your tickets now to be a part of the action!

Tickets are on sale now at www.tickets.adelaideadrenaline.com