Photo: Matt Harvey celebrates scoring a goal vs the Lightning - by Slippery Pixel Photography
After a perfect June, the Brave kick-start their run home to the end of the regular season with dominant displays and pair of victories on the road against the Brisbane Lightning, defeating the team from the sunshine state comfortably 7-3 and 9-2.
With Andy Camenzind back from a long injury layoff, Saturday started with the Brave on the front foot and applying an aggressive forecheck to cage the Lightning into their own zone for large periods of time. Both teams were wary of giving away a lot of penalties, after what happened in Canberra in the reverse weekend, so the game was being played without the typical physicality that was expected. The Brave got pinged by the referee’s whistle for too many men on the ice halfway through the first period and that opened up the first really good opportunity for the Lightning to gain some dedicated time in the Brave defensive zone. The home team made this opportunity count with import Max Roth scoring the opening goal of the game on the power play.
Back with five-on-five hockey, the consistent Brave pressure began opening holes in the Lightning defence and Canberra started increasing shots on target to test Nicholas Novysedlak in the Brisbane goals. The two teams traded goals, but the Brave prevailed to lead 3-2 at the first intermission.
Period 2 provided no relief for the Lightning as the Brave continued to bear down on them with quality chances crafted from a strong passing game. Head coach, Stu Philps, must have been happy standing on the bench with what he saw as his Brave team did not let up, despite the stubborn defence of Novysedlak keeping the Lightning in the game. Lachlan Fahmy finally made the important breakthrough to open a two-goal lead for the Brave, but it was cancelled out shortly later by Alexis Girard to send the game into the third period with a narrow one goal margin and both teams looking for the win.
The Brave have been strong finishers to games this season, with 41% of their total goals scored in third periods, and Saturday followed the Brave 2023 season script to a tee. Canberra doubled their shots on net compared to what the Lightning could muster. They kept prodding and probing their way to opening a gap on the box-score. All this relentless pressure finally paid off with three unanswered goals to Mitch Henning, Austin Albrecht and Matt Harvey, securing the Brave a comfortable 7-3 victory.
Photo: Carson Vance skates through the Brisbane Lightning team - by Slippery Pixel Photography
On Sunday, the Lightning struggled to get out of second gear and the Brave took full advantage by striking quickly with three first period goals by Vance, Bayley Kubara and captain Kai Miettinen. Henning scored a fourth goal early in the second period and from that moment it never looked like Canberra would let go of the lead. Out of nowhere Will Clifford scored for Brisbane but it did not perturb the Brave as Austin Albrecht scored a double before the end of the second to give the visitors a 6-1 commanding lead heading into the third. The last period continued in similar fashion, the Brave put up three more goals, Albrecht completing a quad and Miettinen snagging his brace. Arum Rapchuck scored a consultation second goal for the Lightning on the power play to get the large crowd cheering at least once before the end of the doubleheader weekend.
A commanding weekend in Brisbane by the league and Rurak leaders, cements the nation’s capital team as the team to beat in the AIHL for another week. Their eight-game winning streak breaks this season’s record, previously held by the Northstars and Mustangs. The pair of wins also secured a clean sweep over the Lightning in the first series between the two teams. With both locals and imports all firing now for the Brave, it spells danger for the rest of the league heading into the business end of the season.
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Game Summary:
Final Scores:
Saturday - Caribou CBR Brave 7 – 3 Brisbane Lightning
Sunday - Caribou CBR Brave 9 – 2 Brisbane Lightning
Goal Scorers:
Saturday
Caribou CBR Brave: Casey Kubara, Matt Harvey (x2), Carson Vance, Lachlan Fahmy, Mitch Henning, Austin Albrecht
Brisbane Lightning: Max Roth, Patrik Popovics, Alexis Girard
Sunday
Caribou CBR Brave: Carson Vance, Bayley Kubara, Kai Miettinen (x2), Mitch Henning, Austin Albrecht (x4)
Brisbane Lightning: Will Clifford, Arum Rapchuk
Next Caribou CBR Brave games – Doubleheader weekend:
Saturday 8 July 2023: versus Adelaide Adrenaline – Phillip Ice Skating Centre, Canberra Puck Drop: 5:15pm
Sunday 9 July 2023: versus Adelaide Adrenaline – Phillip Ice Skating Centre, Canberra Puck Drop: 4:45pm