Staggering 58-save effort leads Lightning to comeback win over Ice

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The Brisbane Lightning have produced a stunning victory off of the back of goaltender Jakob Doornbos, defeating the Melbourne Ice 2-1 in overtime despite conceding 59 shots on goal.

It was a dream debut in the black and white jersey for the former Ice Dog Doornbos, posting a 0.983 save percentage and 58/59 shots saved stat line. He was undoubtedly the player of the game, composed in his crease as the Ice surged time and time again, keeping the Lightning in the match even while they struggled to find rhythm offensively.

However, both goalies deserve to be commended, as Melbourne’s superstar goaltender Tatsu Ishida rose to the occasion in his season debut, finishing the afternoon with a 0.938 save percentage. The Ice’s defence appeared more confident with the Japanese import back in net a week from their 9-8 loss to Central Coast, Ishida’s aggressive approach from the blue paint forcing the Lightning into lower quality shots from further out.

Both sides pushed with intent in the early stages, with Ice veteran Joey Hughes robbed by Doornbos as he ripped one on the rush two minutes into the first period. While the Lightning rallied in the moments following, it was eventually Ice import Kolton Shindle who broke the deadlock, placing the puck perfectly over Doornbos’ left pad and under his glove to go up 1-0.

There was a playoff-like intensity about the first period, neither side willing to budge as the goaltenders stood firm in their crease. Ishida’s elite alertness, which gave him the AIHL’s best save percentage last season, was immediately on display, covering pucks immediately as they came by the goalmouth.



Doornbos sparked energy for his own team late in the period as well, dealing with two last-minute odd man rushes from the Ice, including a shot from Hughes in the slot which appeared to be a certain goal until he blocked it over the crossbar.
That moment was a sign for what was to come in the second period. Doornbos refused to let the Ice gain an upper hand despite Melbourne dominating puck possession throughout the frame. The Lightning produced just 10 shots in the second period, while the Ice put 23 on net, but Doornbos was impenetrable.

The Ice’s chances came both at 5-on-5 and with special teams on the ice. They had a brief powerplay two minutes in, but immediately surrendered a shorthanded chance to Brisbane’s Batu Gendunov. Gendunov drew a hooking penalty on Sebastian Bergholt on that same rush, moving the game to 4-on-4. Despite losing their powerplay, Melbourne thrived with more room on the ice, Lachlan Cincotta and Mac Caruana involved in creating multiple high danger chances.

The Ice went to the penalty kill due to a holding call on Lachie Walls a few minutes later, but continued their dominance of puck possession, surging shorthanded through Erdugan and having multiple shots on goal while down a player.
But through it all, Doornbos was a brick wall, ensuring the Lightning’s deficit remained at just one goal entering the final third.

Thankfully for him and the travelling Lightning fans who had been witnessing his supreme efforts, he was immediately rewarded just 46 seconds in, with forward Sacha Rapchuk tying the game via a feed from the captain Aaron Wanat.

That moment was enough to send what had been such a tight contest to a deserved overtime, the 19 third period shots, including a brilliant wrap-around opportunity from Nathan Cachia, still not enough for the Ice to get by Doornbos.

Both teams excelled in the extra period, each looking for their first overtime win of the season, but it was ultimately Gendunov who capitalised on a breakaway immediately after – you guessed it – a sensational 2-on-1 stop from Doornbos. Gendunov broke into open ice as he entered the neutral zone and while Ishida tried to close the gap, Gendunov’s snapshot was too quick to deflect away.

Such a “backs against the wall” effort will undoubtedly provide Brisbane with momentum heading into a titanic clash with the Melbourne Mustangs on Sunday as they look to solidify their status as a potential playoff threat. The Melbourne Ice, however, will be left ruing after failing to capitalise on their plethora of grade A chances, a fourteen-day break awaiting them before travelling to Perth for a weekend series against the Thunder beginning April 26.