With import forward Yvan Kernis having returned to France to
trial for a Magnes team, the side missing two of its three
goalies through injury, and having to face the top team in
the national league, the odds were stacked against the
Thunder at the Dunedin Ice Stadium on Saturday.
However, no-one told the Dunedin side that and it opened its
game against the Botany Swarm looking the stronger team,
making the early plays and putting plenty of pressure on its
Auckland opposition.
Unfortunately, this pressure could not be converted into
goals, and it was the Swarm that opened scoring. Thunder
quickly equalised through Mat Enright, but the Swarm added
two more goals, giving it a 3-1 lead.
With 12 seconds remaining in the first period, JP Bertrand
scored a nice wrap-around goal to close the score to 3-2.
In the second period, Thunder defenceman Hassan Saeed scored
a beautiful goal sniping Swarm and Ice Black goaltender Zak
Nothling from the point to tie the game at 3-3. The Swarm
then scored two goals to lead 5-3 at the end of the second
period.
The Swarm opened the scoring in the third period to take a
6-3 lead, but the Thunder quickly added two more goals
through Gino Heyd and Saeed. With 30 seconds remaining on the
clock Thunder put a lofted pass down the rink by JP Bertrand
which Gino Heyd dropped on to his stick, shot and appeared to
have scored the game tying goal.
However, the play was whistled offside.
In yesterday's game, the Swarm opened its account with less
than two minutes gone, adding a further three before the
first period was out.
The Swarm then added six more goals in the second period.
Heyd scored a nice one-timer shorthanded goal from a pass
from JP Bertrand to end the second period with a score of
10-1.
Thunder started off the third period strongly with Matt
Enright scoring a breakaway goal. The Swarm then added two
more goals to finish the game 12-2.
The Southern Stampede had two good wins against the West
Auckland Admirals in Auckland at the weekend, winning 6-1 on
Saturday and 6-3 yesterday.
The Thunder hosts the Stampede next weekend for a local derby
to finish the season.
The last time these two teams met, the games were split.
- Aaron Bryant
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