Blue Tongues & Ice split weekend

GOLD COAST took on the Melbourne Ice, who are currently vying for first place with the Sydney Bears, this weekend at Gold Coast Iceland. Melbourne, a team known for their skillful rather than physical play, were expected to put up a fight against the Blue Tongues, who needed to win every game for the rest of the season to make the playoffs at the end of this month.

The Blue Tongues certainly showed they were in it to win it, taking only one penalty in the first period, while Dave Upton and Chris Martin gave the Lizards a 2-0 lead going into the second period. Ice goaltender, Stu Denman, made some spectacular saves throughout the game, giving his team the confidence to hit back in the second period, with Kyle Teague and Ryan Tremblay scoring for Melbourne. Chris Martin got the Blue Tongues ahead at the end of the second though, and the crowd was poised for an intense third period.

Melbourne scored two quick goals five minutes into the third, with Greg Sturrock and Lliam Webster potting goals to take the lead. Normally a team to give into frustration, the Blue Tongues surprised their fans by keeping their heads and focusing on the task at hand. Five minutes left in the game, assisted by defenseman Cameron Trew, import Bryan Lachance evened the game at 4 goals apiece. Melbourne's frustrations got the better of them, taking the only penalties of the third with five and a half, and four minutes left in the game, giving the Blue Tongues a much needed powerplay. However it wasn't until the final minute and a half left in the game when fellow import Gaetan Royer, assisted by Chris Martin, scored the game winning goal. Bryan Lachance netted the empty-net insurance goal with 3 seconds left in the game, securing the 3 points for the Blue Tongues.

Regrouping Saturday night, the Ice came out firing on Sunday and completely walked over the Blue Tongues, outshooting Gold Goast 4 shots to every 1 they were able to put on the Ice's Stu Denman. It was clear the Blue Tongues were unable to gain momentum to take control of the play as they continued throughout the game to concede penalties. Jon Bale scored the Blue Tongues only goal of the game with 14 seconds left in the first period, with the scoreboard reading 4-1 at the end of the first. The remaining two periods held no joy for the Blue Tongues, as Peter Matus, Glen Mayer, Greg Sturrock and Kyle Teague all scored for the ice. Blue Tongues Goaltender, Simo Mustonen, was pulled by the coach for the first time this season, sending backup Brenton Cooney into net when the scoreboard read 6-1. Brenton, facing 15 shots, allowed only 3 goals, but it wasn't enough as their shooters couldn't get anything past Stu Denman. The game ended 9-1 to the Ice.