Adrenaline VS Lightning - 5th and 6th of July

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The Adelaide Adrenaline welcome the Brisbane Lightning to the IceArenA this weekend for two games that have massive finals implications.

Play-by-play Eric Balnar has shared his notes with us ahead of the two games including what he’s looking for out of each team. 

OPPONENT AT A GLANCE: THE BRISBANE LIGHTNING
Record: 7-4-1-4 (27 points, 3rd)
HOT & THEN COLD: Brisbane are stuck in a five-game losing streak and have consequentially dropped down the standings. They are 0-4-0-1 since June 14. It’s a staunch contrast to the beginning of their 2025 campaign. Brisbane started the year sizzling with points in 11 straight games and a 7-0-1-3 record.

GOALS ALLOWED GALORE: Brisbane have conceded 39 goals in their five game losing streak. That’s…a lot. They’ve seen lopsided losses of 11-2 (Perth) and 12-5 (Ice). They allowed 44 goals in their first 11 games, and 39 in their last five. Something has swayed in the wrong direction.
IMPRESSIVE IMPORTS: Brisbane’s offensive success runs through four imports: Canadian Tanner Hopps (40 points), Canadian Carson Miller (33) points, Swiss Jules Sturny (32 points) and Mongolian Batu Gendunov (24 points). Together, they’ve combined for 51 of the team’s 74 goals and 63.5% of the team’s point production – the highest concentration in the league. Sturny has been particularly dangerous. His 32 points have come in just 11 games.

HOMECOMING: 21-year-old Matus Trnka returns to face his former team for the first time. Trnka grew up in South Australia and played for the Adrenaline the last two seasons before moving to Brisbane. He leads the team with a 4.37 GAA and .893 save percentage. 

LOCAL TO WATCH: Sacha Rapchuck is a 21-year-old having in the midst of a breakout season. Rapchuck played for the Mighty Roos at the recent World Championships. He already has a career high in points (23) and goals (9) in just 16 games. Raphuck had 16 points in 29 games last year. 
 
AHL Marquee Defenseman: But help is here for Brisbane with the addition of 24-year-old Canadian Alex Campbell. He was a third round NHL draft pick by the Nashville Predators in 2019 and debuted last weekend for the Lightning. Campbell played 18 games in the AHL this last season. He had two goals in one game and three assists the next. He instantly is one of the players with most pedigree.


ADRENALINE SHOTS
Record: 4-10-0-2 (14 points, 7^th)

FINDING THEIR FEET: There’s a lot more to feel good about as of late. Adelaide lost eight straight games to start the season, picking up just two points of overtime losses. Since then, they’ve been around the mark, posting a 4-4 record to move within striking distance of the Finals. Last week’s two losses in a tough Melbourne building were difficult, but the battle really is with other teams for the finals. At the weekend’s start, Adelaide sits with 14 points – seven back of Newcastle, eight back of Canberra and the potential to make a move on Brisbane.

BRISBANE BATTLE: Adelaide’s best shot at securing a finals berth may be through the Brisbane Lightning. At first glance, Brisbane’s 13-point lead seems like a lot. However, Adelaide plays the Lightning four times in the next six games. Win all the games? You nearly tie Brisbane in the standings. Win three of four? You move within striking distance of a Lightning team struggling with form. This weekend goes a long way to determine if Adelaide is in a playoff spot or not. 

THAT SPECIAL FEELING: There’s really no other way to put it – Adelaide’s special teams need to be better across the board. Let’s start with the Power Play. In Adelaide’s wins, they are 4-for-16 (25%). But last weekend, the team went 1-for-12 with the man advantage and dropped both games. On the season, Adelaide operates at an 8.24% clip on the power play – that’s worst in the league by over 10%. Brisbane is quite literally league average with a fourth-place mark of 24.4%. That’s a world of difference and nearly two goals more per game if they can figure it out. Adelaide’s penalty kill isn’t much better. It sits at 73% success rate – seventh in the league. 

LOCAL PRODUCTION: Adelaide’s locals are some of the most productive and consistent in league. After struggling in this department last year, it’s been a welcome sight to see four lines that can genuinely find a way to score. In fact, the locals account for 65% of the team’s points this year – the most in the AIHL. Eight different Australians have at least two goals this season. The Lightning have just four locals with 2+ goals by contrast. Adelaide has a few lines who can contribute. 

SHORING UP THE SECOND PERIOD: Adelaide, on average, loses the second period by 1.25 goals. That’s the biggest margin of deficit of any team, in any period, across the league. I’m looking for how the team plays in the second period. To phrase it nicely, can the team put together a full 60 minutes filled with three productive periods. 

LOCAL TO WATCH: Zach Boyle. Something seems to have clicked for Zach over the last month. After not registering a point for six straight games, Zach has six points in his last five including a two-goal effort last Sunday vs the Mustangs. Perhaps it’s the way he’s playing. Things look simpler. He’s not trying to do as much. He’s playing with a bit of an edge. It looks like less has become more for Zach. He’s an important player and has the most AIHL games to his name. 
 
BONUS LOCAL: Steve Best. He’s been buzzing lately, picking up another two assists on Sunday to move to seven points on the season – more than double his total last year and good for equal sixth on the Adrenaline. While he’s quietly ticking along the stat sheet in the AIHL he’s having an insane year in the local league. With the Red Wings he leads the SA Premier League in scoring by 16 points. He’s put up 34 goals, 25 assists and 59 points in just 16 games. He as 11 points for the Red Wings in his last two. I think Steve has found something that’s worked.