Thunder 6 - Mustangs 3

Michael Dorr broke an AIHL record, and the Perth Thunder special teams dominated proceedings on Sunday in Melbourne as the Thunder gave David Kudla a memorable 100th AIHL game with a 6-3 victory at O'Brien Group Arena in Melbourne.

Dorr scored an AIHL record three short-handed goals and four short-handed points, while the Thunder scored a total of four short-handed goals and two power play goals as only one even-strength goal was scored between the two teams.

Dorr ended with five total points (4G, 1A), while Andrew Cox (1G, 2A) and Ben Breault (1G, 2A) each scored three points and Thomas Heemskerk stopped 30 of 33 shots, with the Thunder being outshot 33-21.

Dorr got the Thunder on the board first when he intercepted a pass on the penalty kill at his own blue line, before skating the length of the ice to score and take a 1-0 lead.

Jessyko Bernard was then assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding before the Mustangs capitalised with a power play goal, only for Dorr to respond less than two minutes later in remarkable circumstances.

Dorr fired a slap shot on the penalty kill from deep in his own zone, likely aiming just to clear the puck, but managed to beat Fraser Carson's glove and hit the back of the net to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead after the first period.

The Thunder then had a power play goal of their own, and again it was Dorr who hit the score sheet to take the score to 3-1 early in the second period.

The Mustangs clawed it back to 3-2 with an even-strength goal in the final minute of the second period, before the Thunder capitalised again on the power play with just nine seconds remaining in the period, with Andrew Cox tipping in a pretty Per Daniel Goransson feed to lead 4-2 after two periods.

Dorr took the advantage to three goals with his third short-handed goal of the night, scoring on the breakaway before the Mustangs responded with a power play goal shortly after to bring the score back to 5-3.

Ben Breault iced the game for the Thunder in the final minute with a short-handed empty net goal to finish off the 6-3 victory.

The victory catapults the Thunder back in to second place, equal on points with third-placed Newcastle with two games in hand.

The Thunder return home to take on the CBR Brave on July 9, Perth Thunder's McGrath Foundation game to raise money for breast cancer care nurses. You can get your tickets here.