Bears @ Mustangs [3-1 Win]

Sydney Bears defeated the Melbourne Mustangs 3-1 at O'Brien Group Arena (Melbourne) on Saturday 16 July. It would be the third time that the teams have met in 3 weeks.

In the first period shots at goal were hard to come by for both teams and goals were harder still. Both teams headed back to the dressing rooms with no result to show for their efforts. Chances came and went with no clear indication about who would score the first goal.

Period 2 was going the same way as period 1 until Bears import Nic Kawasaki broke the deadlock shortly after a Bears powerplay. With the goal finally coming after 20 minutes of hockey, there was a real chance that the Kawasaki goal could be the only one.

The third period saw the Bears score again via Kawasaki on the powerplay with 12.31 remaining and a shorthanded solo effort to Billy Cliff 3 minutes later, giving the Bears a 3-0 lead. 

Mustangs upped the tempo trying to come back into the game but scored their first and only goal with 12 seconds to go in the game in what was a small blot during a shutout worthy brickwall performance by Anthony Kimlin in net.  

The following day, the Bears would take on the Melbourne Ice in an attempt to take 6 valuable points home to Sydney for the weekend.

Story:Eric Brook

Photo: Tania Chalmers Photography