The Bears started the game on fire scoring 2 goals in less than 5 minutes.Bears forward Rob Franchini scored his first of 2 on the night after an ill-timed line change by the Knights sending him on breakaway slipping the puck under Knights goaltender Ryan Lowe. Carrying the momentum Franchini scored again only 20 seconds later after the puck bounced off the end boards right to Rob standing unmarked in front. 

The Bears went on the power play late in the first period with Knights forward Garrett Delaquis being sent off for hooking giving the Bears an opportunity to go 3-0, however a great individual effort by Sean Scarbrough brought the score to 2-1.  

The shorthanded goal took the wind out of the sails of the Bears who couldn’t capitalise on the man advantage. Straight after the penalty expired Bears Coach Vlad Rubes who scored straight off a face off, rifling the puck short side into the back of the net giving the Bears a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.

The second period saw the Knights' turn up the physical play slowing the game down, but the period rendered no score and the final period started with the Bears in front 3-1.

The Knights started the third period well, as the Bears began to tire after a killing off a string of penalties.  Jordan Gavin scored the Knights second shorthanded goal of the night to bring the Knights within 1 of tying the game.

Pushing for a tying goal in the dying seconds of the game the Knights pressured the Bears defense, but the Bears weather the storm and Bears Coach Vlad Rubes managed to score an insurance goal in the final minutes to seal the win for the Bears.

With the win the Bears are now tied with Melbourne for top position on the AIHL leader board with 13 points.

“It was great to see the commitment and the determination to winning in the change room” said Coach Vlad Rubes on the game. 

The Habitat Furniture Man of the Match went to Defense man Vali Pelikovsky who was solid all night on defense for the Bears, breaking up a critical 2 on 1 rush in the dying minutes of the game to help preserve the win. 

"There is much more confidence on the team after last weekend. I think we had this game under control for the while 45 minutes" added Vali Pelikovsky.

Catch the Bears next Sunday night as they take on the Gold Coast Blue Tongues, puck drops at 5pm. 

By Patrick Angel