Blue Tongues Go Five for Fiveash

Blue Tongues Go Five for Fiveash

Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues goaltender, Luke Fiveash, returned to the Phillip Ice House arena to make the Canberra Knights regret losing him.  The Canberra Knights gave up 21 shots in the first period to boost the Blue Tongues on their way to a 5-1 victory in their first game of a doubleheader yesterday.

The pressure from the Blue Tongues began from the drop of the puck.  Both Blue Tongue forward lines had great chances.  At 11:37 in the first it look as if the Blue Tongues were going to score, as Chris Martin went end to end with the puck, but Knights goalie Ryan Lowe made a great glove save. Soon after the Blue Tongues banged a goal home from a rebound off a shot by Dave Upton that bounced out to Brad Smulders who beat Lowe on the open side.

Twelve shots later and 9 seconds left on the clock in the first period and the Blue Tongues were able to get their second goal before heading to the locker room.  Knight’s player, Mark Rummukainen had a bad pitch and gave the puck to Blue Tongue Andre Selander who took a rippling shot from the left circle to beat Lowe.

With the Knights down 2 goals heading into the second period, they came out firing and played a solid defensive period.  The Blue Tongues had two power play opportunities with one at 13:21 by David Batho for tripping and Alain Riesen served a two many man penalty at 4:22.  The Blue Tongues were unable to capitalize on either power plays. As the Knights were up against a strong penalty kill from the Blue Tongues, they did manage two breakaway chances. Luke Fiveash was brilliant saving both on deeks by Canberra's Marko Raita and Craig Sanders.

The Blue Tongues were able to capitalize on one of their 5 shots in the second period with a goal at 6:38 by Henrik Ivvarsson. The import player from Sweden clicked with his fellow countyman, Andre Selander. Selander was able to bring the puck over the blue line and passed it over to Brad Smulders, who then made a drop pass to Ivarrson, and deeked around the Knights goalie, Lowe on the glove side. This gave the Blue Tongues a 3 – 0 lead heading into the third period.

The Knights were able to beat their old teammate, Luke Fiveash at the beginning of the third period.  At 13:44 Eric Thomassian got a shot onto Fivash that was split into the path of Marko Raita to score the Knights first goal of the night.

Both teams were putting on the pressure in the third period. The Blue Tongues were able to answer back with a goal at 5:37.  The hard work of Ross Howell throughout the game did not go without notice, as he assisted Jonny Bale’s goal, from a rebound shot on Lowe.

The Blue Tongues continued to work on the Knights as the Tongues were able to get a short handed goal when Henrik Ivarsson was sent to the box at 3:17 for high sticking.  With  1:58 left in the game, Brad Smulders was able to break through the Knights defense and receive a pass from Andre Selander to deek out Lowe.

The game did not end in silence, as Blue Tongue imports Henrik Ivarsson and Chris Martin were sent to the box with 29 seconds left in the game.  Yet, the Knights were unable to get another bounce before the third period came to a close, making the final score 5  - 1, Blue Tongues.

The teams meet again at the Canberra's Phillips Ice House today, Sunday.