The Central Coast Rhinos took a commanding 5-2 regulation win over the Sydney Ice Dogs, pulling away with a three-goal second period. The Rhinos controlled the pace after a neutral first frame, using the middle stanza to build a lead they would not relinquish.
The game began evenly, with both sides trading a goal in the first to leave it 1-1 after 20 minutes. The Rhinos then seized control in the second, scoring three times while limiting the Ice Dogs to a single reply, pushing the score to 4-2 heading into the third. A quiet final period saw only one more goal, from the Rhinos, sealing the 5-2 final.
The Rhinos' second-period outburst proved decisive, as they outshot and outplayed the Ice Dogs during that stretch to take a two-goal cushion. No individual statistics were available, but the team's ability to generate offense in the middle frame and lock down defensively in the third was the difference.