Melbourne Ice outlasted Brisbane Lightning in a wild 10-8 regulation win, powered by a decisive five-goal second period. The Ice erased a one-goal deficit after the first and never looked back, turning a tight contest into a runaway before holding off a late Lightning surge.
Brisbane took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission after a period of back-and-forth action. Melbourne exploded in the middle frame, outscoring the Lightning 5-1 to build a 7-4 cushion. Brisbane pushed back with four goals in the third, but the Ice matched them with three of their own to seal the high-scoring affair.
The 18 combined goals made for the highest-scoring game of the season in the AIHL. Melbourne’s second-period outburst—five goals on sustained pressure—proved the difference, as neither team found much resistance from the other’s defense or goaltending.