Sydney Ice Dogs beat Perth Thunder 7-4 in regulation, taking control with a dominant middle frame. The road side turned a tied game into a comfortable cushion by the second intermission.
The first period ended 2-2, with both teams trading chances. Sydney then outscored Perth 3-0 in the second period to go up 5-2, and while the third was split 2-2, the lead held to the final horn.
The game was decided by Sydney's three-goal second period, which created a margin that never changed. Perth kept pace in the opening and closing frames, but that mid-game burst was the difference.
