Thunder V Ice Preview

MELBOURNE ICE (3^RD ) V PERTH THUNDER (2^ND)

10-11/06/17 4:30pm
@ Perth Ice Arena
Season Series: Thunder 0-0-0-0 - Ice 0-0-0-0
 

After an impressive Win in front of a home crowd before the all-star break, the Perth Thunder are back at home again. This time their opponent will come from Melbourne, and will be the first time the Ice and Thunder do battle this season.

With the league’s top three spots still tightly contested at this point, both games this weekend represent a big opportunity for either of these teams to gain crucial points.
With both teams coming off a well-rested All-star break, the Ice and Thunder will renew their rivalry in front of eager Thunder fans come Saturday. 

Players to Watch

Thunder:     Christian Ouellet (3 Games - 3 Goals 4 Assists - 7 Points) 

Since joining the team late within the season, Ouellet has opened the eyes of Thunder fans, scoring goals in every game he has appeared in so far and tallying a handful of points in the process. Ouellet bolsters the already solid import line, playing the wing with Breault and Bernard who are the Thunders top two scorers to date. With nifty hands, and a good eye for creating offensive opportunities, Ouellet is one man to keep an eye on heading into a series where offensive production could be the difference between winning and losing.

Ice:             Dayne Davis (5 Games – 2.20 GA - .900SV%)

After an impressive season which earned him a Goodall Cup in Newcastle, Davis had made a name for himself league wide putting up numbers that would argue him as the league’s top goaltender of 2016. (2.46 .905). With Davis now between the pipes in Melbourne after an offseason switch, he has continued to put up league leading numbers this year. He will be a key component to any wins the Ice will be looking to achieve over the weekend.

Keys To Success - Depth Scoring

With the Perth import line leading the way in points and goals this season, the Thunder will need to rely on their depth players and secondary scoring if they are to overcome what will no doubt be a potent attack from a Melbourne side that plays four lines deep every game.

Local Joseph Hughes has been leading the Ice in points this season, sitting just in front of import forward Kristoffer Backman. Meaning this Melbourne side will be eager to call on all top 6 forwards to create offensive chances, and the Thunder defensive units will have their work cut out for them with the Ice surely looking push the play with all four lines rolling.