Xtreme hold off Brewers to win 5-3

The Brewers put up a late fight but the Xtreme won the night in Round 2 action of the National Hockey Super League.

The Xtreme controled the tempo for most of the game, skating to a 5-3 victory. Instantly the Xtreme brought the intensity.

Xander Wardlaw was impressive in his South Australian debut after coming over from Sydney, tallying three points on the night. Noah Maley set the tone by scoring two crucial goals too.

RECAP

The Xtreme started right on time and had intensity from the get go. 

Just minutes into the game, the young gun combination of two 20-year-olds in Xander Wardlaw and Nathaniel Benson broke on to the score sheet.

The duo pounced all over a neutral zone turnover, burned by a defender, created a 2-on-0, played a little give and go before Wardlaw fed Benson in front of the net.

“That combination was dynamic all night,” said Xtreme assistant coach Stu Henly. “They bring so much energy, a lot of skill and didn’t miss a beat.”

Wardlaw finished the night with three points, and picked up his second assist later in the period.

In the opening game of the season the Stars went 0-9 on the power play and the Brewers went 0-11. It took the Xtreme one attempt to score with the man advantage.

Big Graham Charbonneau won a battle in front of the net which got Brewers 17-year-old goalie Matus Trnka down and Olli Martin promptly deposited a puck into the back of the net. 2-0.

The Brewers started to change momentum in the second frame but that was quickly stifled when Reece Boundy went at Xander Wardlaw looking for a fight, but Wardlaw wanted no part. The result was a double minor for instigation and roughing that the Xtreme capitalised off of to push the game into danger territory.

Enter another power play goal in an eerily similar fashion to the first goal. Graham Charbonneau caused havoc in front of Trnka, made a great one handed jab of the puck that Noah Maley tipped in on the goal line.

Perth Thunder captain Jamie Woodman flew in for the game and didn’t miss a beat. He was electric.

“Big shoutout to Jamie,” says Henley. “He’s so calm. He controlled the play. He really dictated the game.”

Woodman dazzled the packed Ice ArenA crowd by generating multiple end-to-end rushes and scoring opportunities.

Fan favourite defenseman David Huxley also looked solid in his return after a three year hiatus.

At the end of two periods the Xtreme were outshooting the Brewers 31-15, out chancing them 8-2 and had won 74% of the face offs. It looked like total domination.

But these Brewers have shown us they show some serious fight. They looked completely re-energised in the third and made a game of it.

It started with a great individual effort from superstar defenseman Zach Boyle who pinched in from the point, cut in front of the net, and beat goalie Jeremy Friederich.

Noah Maley scored his second of the game moments later for the Xtreme to restore a three goal advantage, however. Joey MacDougall grinded in the corner, created a turnover, threw it out in front for Maley who scored his second of the game on a second chance rebound.

“That felt really, really good,” the young forward said. “I’m learning so much from playing with all these experienced guys. I’m learning to play on the wing. I just tried to stay patient and work hard to make sure I took my chances when the come.”

But the Brewers fought back. Again.

Ben Handberg moved to the point and rifled a shot to the net that Tyler Leeming tipped home to make it 4-2. No quit.

The Brewers found themselves on a man advantage with four minutes to go, moved the puck well, but couldn’t quite pull the final trigger.

Eventually, Xander Wardlaw (1 goal, 2 assists) fired a puck at an empty net to put the game out of reach with two minutes to play. Reggie Mattchoss scored a goal with 12 seconds left to make it 5-3 to further demonstrate the fight.

“That was a great team win,” said Henley. “It was well balanced and everyone played their part.”

The Xtreme will try to back it up next week when they face the Stars.

Matus Trnka made 39 saves for the Brewers. Jeremy Friederich made 29 for the Xtreme.

The Xtreme will try to back it up next week when they face the Stars.

SHOTS
Xtreme – 44
Brewers – 29