Thunder 2 - Brave 6

The CD Dodd Perth Thunder have bowed out in the AIHL semi-finals for the third-straight season, losing 6-2 to a determined CBR Brave outfit on Saturday night in Melbourne.

Christian Ouellet and Jessyko Bernard hit the scoreboard for the Thunder, while Peter Di Salvo was forced to face a barrage of shots during a frantic third period in which five goals were scored.

The Thunder dominated the first period, but were unable to break through and score on the Brave as the first period passed by scoreless, before the Brave opened the scoring early in the second.

Ouellet responded almost immediately to level the scores for the Thunder with a dazzling move to beat the Brave defence finished with a highlight-reel shot to tie the score at 1-1.

Some ill-advised penalties cost the Thunder as the Brave took the lead 2-1 on a power play late in the second period.

The Thunder started the third period in the ideal fashion, with Bernard levelling the scores 2-2 on the power play in the opening minute.

From there, it was all Brave as they scored the final four goals of the game, including an empty-net goal, to finish 6-2 victors.

The loss ends the Thunder's best-ever season before the final hurdle, while the Brave move on to play the Melbourne Ice in the 2017 AIHL Grand Final.