Hockey / Sydney Sabres beats Melbourne Whalers 5-3 after comeback scare

Sydney Sabres beats Melbourne Whalers 5-3 after comeback scare

Date:  Source: Ice Hockey Australia

Melbourne Whalers tried to dig itself out of a three-goal hole, but Sydney Sabres held on for a 5-3 victory.

Sydney Sabres made the score 5-2 on a goal by Lachlan Allport at 8:11 in the third period, and Melbourne Whalers got as close as 5-3 when Nickolaos French scored 9:16 into the third period.

Sydney Sabres outdid its season average for goals scored. This season, Sydney Sabres averages 2.4 goals per contest. The 44 shots that Sydney Sabres put on net surpassed Sydney Sabres' average of 2.2 shots per game this season. Sydney Sabres was forced to rely heavily on their penalty kill unit throughout the game, as it racked up 41 penalty minutes.

Sydney Sabres was led by Ellese Carini, who racked up two goals. Carini scored the first of his two goals at 9:29 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Sydney Sabres. Chris Shephard assisted on the tally. Carini's next tally made the score 2-2 with 13:49 left in the second period. Sydney Sabres additionally got points from Saxon Air, who also had one goal and one assist. Sydney Sabres also got a goal from Cian OReilly as well. More assists for Sydney Sabres came via Bryan Costa and Joshua Hansen, who each chipped in two.

Melbourne Whalers' penalty kill was spotless, allowing no goals on three Sydney Sabres power plays. With 17 shots on target during the contest, Melbourne Whalers exceeded the 1.5 shot it averages per game this year. Melbourne Whalers got an offensive boost from its blueliners, who contributed three goals during the game.

Ryan Foll also scored for Melbourne Whalers. In addition, Melbourne Whalers received assists from Remi Beland and Damian Pandolfo, who contributed one each.

Tyrone Mendoza-Kehlet made 14 saves for Sydney Sabres on 17 shots. Melbourne Whalers' Baylea Powell stopped 39 shots out of the 44 that he faced. Melbourne Whalers totaled 31 minutes in penalty time with three minors and one major and went 1-for-7 on the power play. Melbourne Whalers ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Andrew Johns was ejected from the game.