A thrilling split double-header in Dunedin at the weekend means both sides have something to play for in the final round of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League as they seek to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Red Devils are in the better situation as they have 10 points, two more than the Thunder, and get to host the third-placed West Auckland Admirals (23 points) in Christchurch this weekend.
The Thunder face the intimidating task of heading to Queenstown to play the Stampede (33 points), who know just one win will be enough to give them home advantage for the finals.
An 8-7 overtime win over the Red Devils on Friday night gave the Thunder some confidence they could finish the season with a bang.
They did not muck around, either. Cole Beckstead slotted the opening goal after just 12 seconds.
After the Red Devils equalised, the Thunder took control of the game — seemingly — with goals to Tristan Darling, Ian Audas and, on the power play, Beckstead again for a 4-1 lead after the first period.
The pesky Cantabrians promptly scored three unanswered goals to make it 4-4.
The Thunder’s response? Three straight goals to close out a wild period as Mat Enright, Darling and Sebastian Stephen found the net to build a presumably unassailable 7-4 lead.
Naturally, the Red Devils scored three unanswered goals to send the game to overtime.
Enright — fittingly, as he had been celebrated for reaching 150 games for the Thunder — scored the winner four minutes into overtime.
Enright, Audas, Beckstead and Ryan Wonfor all had two assists for the Thunder.
The Red Devils bounced back 24 hours later with a 4-3 win — in overtime, of course.
Audas scored twice for the Thunder but the visitors held a 3-2 lead heading into the final period.
Wonfor scored the game-tying goal on the power play and that was the only scoring of the period.
Liam Dallimore scored the winner for the Red Devils just 38 seconds into overtime.
Beckstead had three assists for the Thunder.
