RECAP: Xtreme 5 - Stars 3

It felt like a storm was building all of Friday evening and it was only a matter of time before the heavens opened up and an Xtreme downpour began.

The Xtreme fell behind 3-1 midway through the second period but scored four unanswered goals to race away with a 5-3 victory over the Noarlunga Stars. They ended their opponents season and clinched first place.

Xtreme captain Joey MacDougall led the way with a four point night including two crucial goals. Xander Wardlaw chipped in with three points of his own.

The Stars entered the game needing to win in regulation to keep their season alive heading into next week’s regular season finale. They were offered an early glimmer of pre-game hope when Xtreme goalie and marquee player Jeremy Friederich was ruled out.

Development goalie Cooper Peacock – a young netminder who has played as high as A-Grade locally – got the start in net. He performed admirably, making a couple key saves in the first and holding his own.

Sharp shooter Jake Riley, however, got the better of him early in the first by sniping home a goal from the left hash mark.

Four minutes later, Nathaniel Benson knocked home the Xtreme’s first of the evening on the power play to tie it at one.

Daniel Chen scored a night goal in tight on Peacock just 37 seconds after the Xtreme equaliser to put the Stars back up 2-1.

The Stars held a 2-1 lead after the first twenty minutes and the shots on goal were an even 12-12. They started the second period on a four minute power play. That forced the Xtreme’s hand to put in experienced NHSL emergency back-up goalie Pete King in net (a 10 year AIHL veteran).

Zach Steele scored an unassisted goal four minutes into the second period.

Then, with 10 minutes to go in the second, the Stars had a power play opportunity and a chance to go up 4-1.

That’s when Joey MacDougall took over the game. While shorthanded he stole the puck in the Stars end, powered to the front of the net and slipped one by Glen Forbes White to make it 3-2.

The Stars goaltender was fantastic all evening long. He made 40 saves overall and held them in it as long as he could.

However, the Xtreme completely took over the third period and dominated the last twenty.

They outshot the Stars 17-11 in the last but it felt like a lot more. Joey MacDougall needed just thirty seconds to tie the game at three.

Then, Xander Wardlaw buried a nice pass from MacDougall with 5:30 to play. Needing a win in regulation things were getting desperate for the stars.

Dean Peterson scored on a deflected shot with 4:51 to go and in a blink of an eye it was 5-3 Xtreme. Game over.

Pete King made 21 saves in relief of Peacock and allowed just one goal in net for the Xtreme. 

The Xtreme clinched first place with the win and also guaranteed the finals spot for the Port Adelaide Brewers. Those two teams will meet to conclude the regular season next week.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

2ND PERIOD

3RD PERIOD