Preview Round 16 – Sydney Road Trip

The MOAT: Melbourne Mustangs are finally moving up. After weeks of looking up at all six of the other competitive teams in the AIHL, the Mustangs have eventually accrued enough points to get beyond the second last position in the standings. The challenge this week is to stay there or, pending other results, climb even higher as they depart on their final road trip for the season.

A five game winning streak had given hope to the Mustangs dream of competing in the finals. However, these hopes were dimmed a little with yet another heartbreaking loss last weekend when the Mustangs gave up two valuable points to the Adelaide Adrenaline. As they move from Adelaide on to Sydney this week, a return of anything less than the full six points would be a disappointment. The Mustangs now sit ahead of both Sydney teams and will be looking to ensure that no Sydney team qualifies for the finals for the first time since 2009.

First stop on the trip will be Penrith Ice Palace to take on the Sydney Bears. Despite having been overtaken by the Mustangs, the Bears too would be clinging to the mathematical chances that see them sneak into fourth spot. The Bears come into this game having lost their past three, and will be eager to get back into the winners circle. While both teams must hope for results to go their way, all they can do is keep winning, which means we can expect plenty of desperation hockey, because every shift could mark the end of the season for one team.

The Mustangs last game in Penrith was a topsy-turvy affair, with crazy swings of momentum for both teams. The Mustangs blitzed the opening three minutes with three goals, but in the blink of an eye, their lead disappeared and they were a goal down by the first intermission. Two late goals in period two and they were back on level terms. Then, surprisingly after 12 goals in 30 minutes, a lone goal to the Bears forward Ales Padelek was the only score of the third period, sending the Mustangs home with nothing. It was a familiar script this year for the Mustangs, and they will need to remain focused for the full game to prevent it playing out again.

Then the road trip becomes more of a holiday. The Mustangs usually make time to head to Sydney’s famous beaches, before taking part in a training run with points on offer, otherwise known as a Sydney Ice Dogs game. The Ice Dogs forgettable season has gone from bad to worse, with the loss of their only points due to bylaw breaches on the number of players dressed. It’s difficult to see them getting these points back, and one would envisage a similar game to the last one the Mustangs played in Liverpool, when they picked up their first victory in the building by a very convincing score of 10-1. As long as the Mustangs stay motivated and don’t get carried with the holiday idea, there is no reason to expect the season average over 10 goals per game against the Ice Dogs, to drop very much.

Compared with last week’s cross-country road trip, this one appears a lot less troublesome. Only 40 kilometres between the locations allows the Mustangs a lot more time to relax and have a bit of fun. It is the last opportunity they have to spend the weekend away as a team, so hopefully they can make the most out of it, and bring home two wins to continue their climb back up the AIHL ladder.