The Perth Thunder clinched an important 4-3 home victory over the Newcastle North Stars at Perth Ice Arena on Sunday.

The clash saw the second game of the weekend between the league leaders with the Thunder responding to the previous days’ loss and splitting the final home series against the teams.

The first period began with a little less pace than the day before, as both teams were feeling the effects of the hard hitting back-to-back games.

With the home crowd behind them, the Thunder were able to put the first goal on the board midway through the period after a quick shot in front from veteran Andrew Cox was able to beat North Stars goalie Dayne Davis.

However, AIHL’s leading goal scorer Luke Moffat replied soon after to ensure the teams were locked at 1-all at the first intermission.

The second period began with the offensive pressure the Thunder needed if they were going to keep the potent North Stars import line from capitalising once more.

With the thunder on the power play, Toni Kluuskeri was able to make the most of a chance in front of the North Stars goal tender.

“Today was a huge team effort,” Kluuskeri said after the game. “Everyone was battling hard all the time, everyone was hitting and these are the kind of games I play for.”

With the Thunder ahead 2-1, a strong fore-check by the North Stars led to the next goal, with Beau Taylor scoring in the closing minutes of the second period.

Locked at 2-all at the final break, the Thunder were going to need the offensive pressure and continuous physical play that they had managed to maintain through-out the second period if they were going to keep themselves within reach of the win.

The third period was a constant back and forth, with opportunities in front of both goaltenders.

Thunder goalie Mark Guggenberger was forced to make several crucial saves early on against the North Stars top line, which were playing aggressively in front of the blue paint looking for the go-ahead goal.

However, with just under ten minutes remaining, the Thunders import line was able to combine for a goal which was Luc Daigneaults’ first of the weekend and 13^th of the season.

As things heated up in the final minutes, with both teams battling hard for the win, a power play opportunity gave the Thunder the chance to score their fourth goal of the game and their second with the man advantage through new import Alex Hudson.

With the home side ahead by two goals, the North Stars were desperate to close the gap and first consolidate their lead on top of the AIHL ladder.

This time it was the league’s leading point scorer netting the goal. The tally was Wudricks’ 24th of the season, in what has been an all-star year for the centerman.

Despite closing within a goal with four minutes remaining, Guggenberger again stood strong, holding off the late onslaught of North Star shots and sealing the win for the Thunder.

Thunder coach Dave Kenway thought his charges were a bit flat in the third period on Saturday, but said they showed they had what it takes to with stand the league’s leading team.

“We have been solid in the third, but yesterday we took our foot off the gas, and gave them time and space in our own zone and they capitalised on it,” Kenway said. “So tonight the objective was to shut them down and don’t them play their own game.”

Newcastle coach Andrew Petrie felt his team fought hard to come away with three points on the road against a tough team.

“We’re not happy to have played them four times and come out on the losing side of the ledger,” Petrie said of his sides' 1-2-0-1 record against the Thunder in 2015. “But I think both teams battled hard for the points they came out with and I wouldn’t be surprised if both make the Grand Final.”  

With finals looming around the corner both coaches were looking to the future. Should the teams face each other again, it will be in the AIHL Finals which take place August 29^th and 30^th in Melbourne.

However, next week, the North Stars host the Mustangs on Saturday night at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium, while the Thunder travel to Melbourne to face the Ice at Medibank Icehouse in a double header.