Recap Weekend 3 - Success in the National Capital

The Brisbane Lightning spent the April 20th & 21st 2024 weekend in Canberra and came away with 2 solids wins.  It’s always a bit disquieting for coaches and players to make the logistically awkward trip to have a 2-game set with the Canberra Brave in the ‘Brave Cave’.  Generally, a strong team with raucous fans and a rink that suits their style, the Brave are always a formidable force at home.  This weekend, however, there was a glint of hope as the Brave had a number of players away on Australian National Team duties and have only just signed their first big import of the season.  The Lightning have also been affected by the Men’s World Championships, missing a big part of their offence as Julian Fodor makes his first Men’s National Team appearance.  In addition, they are still without last year’s leading scorer and top import Jordan McTaggart out with a lower body injury.

Saturday was a very good all-around game from the Lightning.  They started strong with an opening goal from new goal-scoring import D-man Mitchell Dyck – his 4th of the young season – before Canberra, with goals from their new import Maylan and a follow-up from Gallagher, pulled ahead at the end of the first to lead 2-1.  The Brisbane boys came out fired up in the second and third periods however.  Arum Rapchuk fired home a powerplay marker just seconds into the 2nd frame, and Anthony Barnes followed with his 3rd and 4th tallies of the season in quick succession to put the boys in black up 4-2 as the second period came to a close.  In the 3rd period the only scoring came off the stick of Anthony Santilli to put the game to bed and leave it at 5-2 for the Lightning.  The coaches appreciated the effort and structured play from the Brisbane Lightning – Sacha Rapchuk being awarded the “Grit Award” from the coaches and defensive stalwart Mitchell Dyck getting the nod for “Player of the Game”.  Dyck sent kudos to his fellow import - Curtis Meger - in goal for the Lightning.  “Megs was huge for us this weekend”, said Dyck.  “He’s solid between the pipes and gives the guys real confidence to make plays knowing he can backstop most of our mistakes.”

Sunday was a bit more challenging for the Brisbane team.  Even though the final score ended up the same at 5-2 on the scoreboard, the level of play at the beginning of the game from the Lightning was not at the same intensity level or with the same structure they played with on Saturday.  The first two periods were very much tit-for-tat, and the teams ended up tied up at 2-2 at the end of the second period.  Goals from the Lightning came off the sticks of Anthony Santilli and Anthony Barnes – “Barnsey” continuing his torrid start to the season with his 5th goal of the young campaign.  In the third period the Brisbane team turned their play around.  Arum Rapchuk kick-started the period and the team with a brilliant solo shorthanded effort that he backhanded past the Canberra netminder Tetreault.  Patrick Popovics followed up with a couple of markers within the space of about 1 minute to lead the team to a solid victory.

“It doesn’t matter that Canberra had some players away because of the Australian team”, Head Coach Terry Kiliwnik countered to some suggestions that the Lightning had it easy this trip to Canberra.  “It’s still challenging to come into another team’s arena and take 2 straight wins.  They still have Tetreault in goal, they had their new top import (Maylan), and they have their great fan support in the Brave Cave – any game here is tough and I’m proud of how this team got it done on both days.”

With two wins the Lighting have ended the first 6 games of the year at 0.500 with 3 wins and 3 losses.  Going up against Perth, Canberra and the 2 Melbourne teams was a tough ask to begin 2024 and coming out with 3 wins is a reasonable outcome that the team have to be content with.  The next couple of weeks give the Brisbane Lightning a chance to breathe, with a home weekend against the Central Coast Rhinos and a well-deserved bye week to follow.