AIHL Preliminary Finals Preview

James Lane

The AIHL playoffs begin this weekend with two sudden-death preliminary finals to decide who will join Melbourne Ice and the Canberra Brave in the semi-finals.

Thunder vs Mustangs

Perth Thunder enter in strong form after back-to-back wins over the Mustangs to close the regular season, scoring 24 goals across the two games. Zane Jones and Kolby Johnson have been central to Perth’s attack, while Ville Tenosalmi has added crucial playmaking. The Mustangs, however, showed they can trouble Perth, leading deep into Sunday’s clash before fading late. Nathan Dunkley’s seven-point performance was a reminder of his ability to change a game. The key for Melbourne will be tightening defensively against a Thunder side that thrives on offensive surges.

Northstars vs Lightning

Newcastle and Brisbane split their weekend series in contrasting fashion. The Northstars opened with an 11–1 demolition, powered by Kim Tallberg and Wehebe Darge, but Lightning hit back the next day with an 8–4 win led by Tanner Hopps’ five-goal haul. That sets up an unpredictable contest. Newcastle bring playoff experience and depth, while Brisbane’s forward line can punish mistakes if given space. The opening period could prove decisive: the Lightning’s fast start on Sunday showed how dangerous they can be when playing with momentum.

Both matchups offer contrasting styles and recent history, with the winners advancing to face the league’s top two sides in the semi-finals.