Forbes-White backstops Stars to first win

Noarlunga Stars goaltender Glen Forbes White knew he had to be better. Last week he allowed three goals on his first four shots vs. the Xtreme and his team was in a hole too deep.

With the 0-2 Stars desperate for a win, the Stars goalie was the headliner and the rest of the team’s supporting cast was moved into starring roles in a 4-3 win over the Brewers on Friday night.

Forbes-White stopped 42 pucks while four different Stars players had goals.

“I felt way more calm from the get-go,” Forbes White said after the game. “Everything felt better. Mostly I was just keen to get back on the ice and do everything I could for the guys when they needed me the most.”

The team needed him from the second the puck drop. The Brewers had 15 of the first 17 shots on net to open the game. Forbes White, who was playing only his second game since returning from a 3-month knee injury, stopped everything that came his way.

“I knew after the first save it was going to be different,” he said.

Lots of those saves came on a Brewers’ power play as penalties played a factor between these two sides again.

The first time the Brewers and Stars met they combined to go 0-20 on power play opportunities.

It was much the same early on Friday night. Within five minutes four penalties had already been called. The Brewers let a 5-on-3 opportunity go by the wayside and failed to find the back of the net. It was much the same for the Stars who once again struggled to maintain possession with the man advantage.

Andrew Glass, who was making a start in net in front of Matus Trnka for the Brewers, was also strong as the Stars squandered early chances.

However, Ryan Foll had the first goal of the game after knocking home his own rebound to put the Stars up 1-0.

Nicola Pau levelled the score for the Brewers after he was left all alone in the slot and rifled one past Forbes White.

The second period started off like a dream for the Stars. Tyson Boyd scored a sneaky goal jamming away at a puck in tight on Andrew Glass to put the Stars up 13 seconds into the period.

Then it was all Brewers.

Wave after way, flow after flow, shot after shot…they just kept coming at Glen Forbes White. And he had an answer every. single. time.

At one point he literally stood on his head as he made his best save of the game.

The Brewers’ Tyler Leeming floated a pass on a short-handed 2-on-1 to sharp shooting Zach Boyle who got a firm shot off. Forbes-White dove, rolled and gloved the puck out of mid-air in a save that earned a standing ovation from the crowd.

Forbes-White was the Brewers punching bag in the second period. He absorbed everything the Brewers through at him and his team didn’t need much of a window to convert.

The Stars' goalie may have been the headliner but the supporting cast deserved a heck-of-a-lot of credit.

The Stars' third line especially came to play. 

After the Brewers controlled most of the period, Stars forwards Tyson Boyd and Jarrad McDonnell found themselves on a 2-on-1. Boyd sent a firm pass in tight to McDonnell in front who banked in his first goal of the season before diving through the air a la Bobby Orr.

The Stars added another late goal from Zach Steele on a break-away to head to the third period up 4-1 despite being outshot 33-19.

The secondary scoring must have been a relief to head coach Sami Mantere. The Stars really only had goals from Jake Riley and Yoann Levesque entering this one. Today was a different story.

“It was such a great team effort to capitalise when we needed,” said Forbes White. “Tyson Boyd and Jarrad McDonnell scored some really gritty goals. It was awesome to see.”

Yoann Levesque was also decisive on the night, tallying two assists.

The third period started a bit flat for the Brewers. They failed to register a shot while trying to make the come back for the first seven minutes of the period.

But they came hot and heavy late.

After Glen Forbes White and Andrew Glass traded saves, a pair of late Jake Riley penalties almost proved costly for the Stars who were trying to hold a lead.

The Brewers converted on both power play opportunities – from a Tomek Sak snipe and a Steve Best tipped shot – and the Brewers found themselves down 4-3 with 13 seconds to play.

But it was little too late.

A Stars win to ensure every team has a win on the board four rounds into the season.

The Brewers now turn to desperation mode and will look to bounce back vs the Xtreme next week.

SCORING SUMMARY

Shots 
Brewers 45
Stars 30 

1ST PERIOD

2ND PERIOD

3RD PERIOD