Thunder 5 - Ice 2

A three-point night from Shaun Tobin and an emphatic performance from the import forwards has led the CD Dodd Perth Thunder to a 5-2 win over the Melbourne Ice at Perth Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Tobin tallied a goal and two assists, Louick Marcotte and Keven Veilleux added a goal and an assist each, while Andrew Cox assisted on two goals, including one for Ben Breault, as the Thunder offence overwhelmed the visitors.

Nico Viksten was outstanding in net for the Thunder, making 22 saves on 24 Ice shots, including a leading contender for save of the year late in the second period on a wrap-around attempt from John Piotrowski, as the Thunder line-up bounced back from a tough stretch with a statement win.

Veilleux got the scoring started early, pouncing on a rebound from a Rob Haselhurst point shot after a brilliant stretch pass from David Kudla to take a 1-0 lead.

Jamie Woodman had a long wrist shot from the point sneak through Ice goaltender Sebastian Andersson's five-hole, and while the Ice netminder would've liked that one back, Todd Graham set up John Piotrowski to make it a 2-1 game just minutes later.

Breault capitalised on a breakaway just a few minutes before intermission to restore a two-goal lead for the Thunder, and the start to the second period was hotly contested, with neither team able to break through.

Louick Marcotte pounced on an error from Ice defenceman Jacob Lundgren to set up Tobin for the 4-1 goal midway through the second, and the Thunder offence continued to generate chances, with Kieren Webster narrowly missing a chance to make it 5-1 thanks to a timely stick from the Ice defence.

It was then Viksten's turn to shine, pulling off likely the save of the year as he went post-to-post after looking beaten on a Piotrowski wrap-around attempt, only to make a brilliant desperation stop with his glove to preserve the three-goal Thunder lead.

The Ice narrowed the margin to two goals after Austin McKenzie scored early in the third, and while the Ice pushed to make it a one-goal game, it was a power play goal from Marcotte that sealed the deal as the Thunder skated away with a well-earned 5-2 win.

The Thunder now have their final bye of the season for All-Star festivities in Sydney, with Jamie Woodman, Rob Haselhurst and Kieren Webster selected to represent the Thunder for Team South on Saturday, June 15.

After the All-Star break, the Thunder travel to New South Wales to take on the Sydney Bears and Newcastle Northstars on June 22-23 in a pair of games that will likely shape the Thunder's finals fortunes for season 2019.