Thunder 7 - Ice Dogs 5

The CD Dodd Perth Thunder have recorded a key home victory, winning a wild, high-scoring game against the Sydney Ice Dogs 7-5 at Perth Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Two goals each to Andrew Cox and Jake Gilmour and four points for Ben Breault led to the Thunder’s sixth victory in the past seven games, while Alastair Punler celebrated his 100th AIHL game with two points as the Thunder pounded 50 shots on the Ice Dogs net.

A penalty-laden game reached a strange apex in the third period, with Ice Dogs coach Andrew Petrie ejected from the game for abuse of official as both clubs led a parade to their penalty boxes, resulting in 13 power plays and four power play goals in the game.

Jake Gilmour got the Thunder off to the ideal start, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes, including one from a nifty deflection, to build a 2-0 lead before the Ice Dogs hit back three minutes later.

Louick Marcotte made sure the Thunder went in to the first intermission with a deserved two-goal lead, firing a rocket over the shoulder of Garret Bartus to make it 3-1 at first intermission.

The Ice Dogs responded on the power play to cut the Thunder lead, but Andrew Cox came to life in the final three minutes of the second period, scoring twice to give the Thunder a commanding 5-2 lead after two periods.

The first 10 minutes of the third period were tight, before the Ice Dogs breathed life back in to the game with a goal to bring the score to 5-3, but then the penalty trouble began.

Three consecutive penalties to the Ice Dogs, including Petrie’s ejection, led to a lengthy five-on-three power play for the Thunder, who were able to capitalise twice to take any doubt out of the result and a 7-3 lead.

The Ice Dogs capitalised on a late power play and scored again in the final 10 seconds to take the score to 7-5, finishing a crazy night of hockey with three points for the Thunder.

The Thunder and Ice Dogs face off again on Sunday at Perth Ice Arena.