Adelaide has picked up its first win in seven games in a 2-1 thriller against the Perth Thunder at the Ice Arena on Sunday, earning their first three points since June 24.

An even start saw both sides score in the first period before a sole goal to Tyler Leeming in the second period paved the way for a tense final period.

Pier-Olivier Grandmaison scored his 20^th goal of the season, with the Thunder forward the first to 20 in 2018, while Sebastian Andersson faced 40 shots.

First blood went to Perth and Grandmaison with his fourth goal of the weekend, scoring the shorthanded goal on the back of Ben Breault winning possession in the centre.

Not even a diving Caleb Apperson could stop the league’s best point scorer, but their lead was shortlived as the Adrenaline put on a swift counterattack.

Apperson turned from desperate defender to awesome assister with his build up play alongside Corey Stringer putting the Adrenaline deep into Perth territory.

The puck fell to Harley Anderson who scored his second goal in as many games, and it was all tied up.

As the game wore on the intensity increased and neither side had many opportunities to take a breath, with the likes of Nathanial Benson and Alex Adams taking Perth head on.

Through the first two periods Perth only out-shot Adelaide 24-22.

Adelaide had the highlight of the day, though, with their go-ahead goal at 3:30 as Ales Kratoska showed his skills.

Winning possession by the blue line through Corey Stringer, Kratoska pulled Perth’s defenders to the right wing, charging with confidence.

Right behind him was Apperson and a nifty backpass through the legs saw Apperson in control with no one in his way.

Over on the left, also on his own, was Tyler Leeming, and with goalie Peter Di Salvo off his line the pinpoint cross plated up a delicious goal for Leeming.

Still with over 20 minutes to play, Adelaide was up against the wall in fast and very furious hockey but Perth could not find the net against a gallant side after just its third outright win of the season.

With the Thunder out-shooting Adelaide 16-5 in the third the Adrenaline were looking a little messy but they played with guts and against the best top line held their nerve.

When the final seconds ticked away and they survived a 6-on-4 finish it was an ecstatic Adrenaline team that celebrated victory with Kratoska praising the fans.

“It felt like today we had a seventh man playing on our side,” Kratoska said.

“The crowd put lots of emotion in the arena and we added that emotion to our team.”

Kratoska says the goal now is to play with the same passion and enthusiasm from the 2-1 win, and he loved getting under Perth’s skin.

“We need to play like this the rest of the season,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter how we score the goals, just as long as we have one more than them.

“We frustrated Perth and you can see that they are pissed and that makes me happy.”

Next weekend sees Adelaide taking on the league leaders CBR Brave in Canberra for one of the toughest road trips of the league – the Brave have won eight of 10 at home this season.

SATURDAY - Perth 9 defeat Adelaide 2

Unlucky to be trailing in the first, the Adelaide Adrenaline were outplayed by a rampant Perth Thunder as Pier-Olivier Grandmaison guided his side to an 9-2 win at the Ice Arena on Saturday.

Grandmaison, the league’s leading points scorer, had a hattrick that was capped off by a rocket in the final 90 seconds and his points total neared the half century at 47.

For the Adrenaline Tyler Leeming scored his first AIHL goal.

Adelaide was promising early on with Ales Kratoska captain in the absence of Josef Rezek, but the luck did not fall their way as Perth scored a shorthand goal via Jordan Kyros with just 2:05 in the first remaining.

Nine seconds into the second period it was clear Perth had flicked a switch and were ready to wrap up the points as James Woodman scored from the left wing, beating Andersson on his short side.

Grandmaison played his part in their next two goals, scoring one on his own and seeing his rebound fall to Tomek Sak.

It was 5-0 with 3:09 to play thanks to Ben Breault and his 13th goal (and 36th point) of the season.

With Perth finding space in the third period, Andersson could do little to keep the margin from blowing out but Adelaide finally had something to cheer about with just under 11 minutes to play.

A scintillating counterattack from Kratoska and Steve Best set-up Leeming who caught Peter Di Salvo napping, ending his shutout hopes.

Fifth string goalie Rusty Brewer provided late heroics after Grandmaison pushed the score out to 7-1, with the young goalie playing with confidence.

Despite the loss there was a little more cheering for the home fans thanks to a late goal from Harley Anderson, although the final say went to Grandmaison and his devastating performance.