Newcastle Northstars beat Canberra Brave 2-1 in regulation, with the damage done in the opening period. The home side's two-goal burst in the first was enough to secure the win, even as Canberra tightened up over the final 40 minutes.
Newcastle came out fast, scoring twice in the first period to carry a 2-0 lead into the break. Canberra answered with a second-period goal to cut the deficit to 2-1, but the third period stayed scoreless and the Northstars closed out the result.
The decisive number was the scoreboard after 20 minutes: Newcastle's early cushion proved insurmountable. With no goals in the third period, the Northstars' first-period output was the difference in a one-goal game.