Game Recap: Xtreme 7 def Brewers 5

The Adelaide Xtreme rode their special teams to a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over the Port Adelaide Brewers on Friday night.

It was a game of opportunities for both teams. Only the Xtreme took full advantage.

The Xtreme scored four power play goals and converted on a penalty shot. The Brewers went 0-5 on the power play and failed to score on a penalty shot of their own.

Noah Maley continued his breakout campaign by chipping in two goals including the winner. Jeremy Friederich made 33 saves for the Xtreme.

"He was so solid all night," said Xtreme head coach Eric Lien. 

It felt like the night belonged to the Port Adelaide Brewers for nearly the whole game. 

When Jeremy Klein scored with 10 minutes to go in the game, the Brewers established their third two-goal lead of the game and just had to close the game out. 

Things were coming up Brewers in from very early on in. Reece Boundy, usually an enforcer, played the game of his season by chipping in two goals ncluding the first of the game and another to break a 2-2 tie in the second.

The Xtreme kept fighting back and were never really out of touch despite being outplayed the first 50 minutes of the game. They found themselves down 2-0, 4-2, and 5-3 but kept finding key goals to keep the Brewers in sight.

Jeremy Klein's goal seemed like the back breaker. But a quick response just 40 seconds later got the Xtreme going.

Jeremy Friederich then made a series of key saves for the Xtreme.

"The boys talked about that [stretch of saves] on the bench," said Lien. "It was a real motivator that Jeremy had kept them in it."

The goalie kept the Xtreme in it and held off the Brewers long enough just to give the team in green one more chance.

That came when the Brewers became undisciplined and commenced a wild march to the penalty box. 

Andrew Chen tied it on the power play and took advantage of an awful Brewer give away in the middle of the ice with 6:47 to go.

50 seconds later, Noah Maley was interfered with while coming in all alone.

The referee handed out a penalty shot - the second of the game. 

Steve Best had one in the first period for the Port Adelaide Brewers but he failed to score. But NHSL breakout player Noah Maley found the back of the twine. He potted the game winning goal on the penalty shot to put the Xtreme up 6-5.

If the Brewers were unravelling before that goal they completely became undone after that. The team took a combined 30 PIM in the final 6:47 of the hockey game. Any chance they could have had to tie it up was squandered by the undisciplined nature of the team.

Xander Wardlaw added the fourth power play goal of the game on an empty net with the Brewers in desparation mode.

Adrian Esposito and Wardlaw both scored on the power play earlier in the game. 

The Xtreme (4-1) move in to sole possession of first place. The Brewers (3-3) remain in the second and final playoff spot just two points ahead of the Stars.

The Stars (1-2-2) return to action next week vs the Xtreme. 

Get your tickets at www.bit.ly/NHSLTickets 

SCORING SUMMARY

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