Thunder 1 - Mustangs 0 (SO)

History was made during a tense contest between the CD Dodd Perth Thunder and the Melbourne Mustangs on Sunday night, as Rob Haselhurst's shootout goal led the Thunder to a 1-0 victory at Perth Ice Arena.

It was the first regular-season game in Australian Ice Hockey League history to feature a three-on-three overtime period, with goaltenders Nico Viksten and Jaden Pine-Murphy standing tall all night before Haselhurst finally found the back of the net in the fifth round of the shootout.

Haselhurst said post-game he was pleased to break the deadlock and secure the win in his first home weekend since returning to Perth after a stint in Newcastle.

"I've been practicing that move for a while now and I actually really wanted to try it out," Haselhurst said. "When Rucky (coach Dave Ruck) called my name, I knew exactly what to do."

The Thunder overcame plenty of adversity during the game, with import winger Louick Marcotte ejected from the game in the first period after receiving a major penalty for spearing Mustangs forward Jamie Bourke.

With Keven Veilleux also sitting in the box for slashing, the Thunder penalty kill was crucial in keeping the game scoreless through a frantic ending to the first period.

The Thunder suffered another blow during the second period, with Ben Breault being hit awkwardly in to the boards, and after one more shift Breault then didn't return to the game.

Nico Viksten made a key save on Christian Isackson late in the third period to maintain the tie and force overtime, and both he and Jaden Pine-Murphy were outstanding in overtime to make sure the game was settled in the shootout.

Both goaltenders in the game were credited with a shutout, the first time that's happened in the AIHL since 2010, and the Thunder gained their first points in the standings for the 2019 season.

The CD Dodd Perth Thunder travel to New South Wales next weekend for games against the Newcastle Northstars and Sydney Ice Dogs, before returning home to battle the defending Goodall Cup Champion CBR Brave on May 11-12.