It is crunch time for the MOAT: Melbourne Mustangs, who are now facing their worst start to an AIHL season. With only two wins from the first nine games the Mustangs are falling off the pace and it is critical that they turn things around quickly, starting with a couple of good performances when the Adelaide Adrenaline travel to Melbourne this weekend.
It looked like the Mustangs had begun to turn things around last weekend. Passes were connecting, shots were finding the target and they well in control of the game, leading the Sydney Ice Dogs 4-1 after two periods. However a lapse in concentration and a series of errors allowed the Ice Dogs back into the contest and once they gained momentum, the Mustangs could do little to stem the tide, conceding five unanswered goals to go down 6-4.
The loss was a costly one for the Mustangs, as the gap between the top and bottom four of the AIHL widens. They will have to regroup and come out even stronger for their next set of games against an Adrenaline side equally as desperate to catch the competition leaders. The Adrenaline had a late start to the 2016 season, due to a rink that was not ready for action, but despite playing three less games, the Adrenaline are already one point ahead of the Mustangs in the standings. The must-win nature of the games this weekend cannot be stressed enough.
Even with home ice advantage, winning will not be an easy task for the Mustangs. The Adrenaline have been very competitive this year including games in which they lost. They pushed the Melbourne Ice to a shootout in Melbourne early in the season, and went down narrowly to the Perth Thunder last weekend. Their penalty kill had a good work out against the Thunder when it was called on to defend a major penalty and a couple of 5-on-3 penalties. The Mustangs certainly have their work cut out looking to score on such well-structured defence.
When the teams met last season the Mustangs and Adrenaline played a series of high scoring encounters. In each of the Melbourne games Wehebe Darge collected a hat trick, including a final minute goal that helped the Adrenaline overcome a 3-2 deficit to claim a shootout win. It was a devastating blow for the Mustangs who had fought back from two goals down to take the lead with just over two minutes to go, only to see it disappear a minute later. Darge will again be a player the Mustangs need to watch as his national team form, where he scored an incredible 24 points in five games earlier this year, has carried over to the AIHL where he is leading the scoring for the Adrenaline.
It is clichéd, but the Mustangs really need to focus on one shift at a time. There have been times where they look capable of beating any team in the league, but it doesn't take much for a game to slip away. They just need to simplify the game and not get ahead of themselves. If the Mustangs concentrate on dominating each shift as it comes, then they will be in a position to improve their record and move up the AIHL ladder.
Melbourne Mustangs v Adelaide Adrenaline Saturday May 28, 5pm Sunday May 29, 4pm O'Brien Group Arena
RHINOS
LIGHTNING
NORTHSTARS
ICE
THUNDER
ADRENALINE
MUSTANGS
BRAVE
