Bears defeated the Melbourne Ice 4-3 at the Penrith

Ice Palace on Sunday night.

Melbourne dominated possession, shots and penalties,

but body-on-the-line defending and lethal finishing led to

the Bears' win against a 34-16 shot ratio.

The game did not start well for the Bears with cheap

turnovers in the defensive third, but the game changed

with a penalty against Melbourne's Liam Webster in the

fourth minute.

The Bears seized the initiative and 37 seconds later

when an unmarked Michal Lauko scored from in front.

Dylan Moore for Melbourne was sent off for elbowing in the on four minutes and again the Bears capitalised,

with Eric Begin scoring a screamer from long range.

The Bears were forced to skate five on three when Nick

Cleland and Vlad Rubes for high sticking and hooking

respectively, but the Bears defended well and did not

concede.

The Ice dominated early in the second period, but the

Bears counter-attacked well, scoring against the run of

play, Valdemar Pelikovsky scoring five minutes in.

Two goals in two minutes followed by Melbourne as

Baclig scored both in the seventh and ninth minute.

On the fourth minute of the third period, Lauko scored

another goal on a breakaway, suring up the Bears' position.

The Bears' position was put under threat when they went two men down again as Zvonicek (slashing) and

Lauko (high-sticking) were sent off at the last eight

minutes.

Melbourne piled on the pressure, Matt Armstrong

slotting home with seven minutes remaining.

Melbourne continued to dominate for the remainder

of the game, passing brilliantly and firing shots in.

The Bears defended courageously, putting bodies on the line, throwing themselves in the way of shots.

With 47 seconds to go, Melbourne pulled their goalkeeper, skating six on five, but the Bears held on to record a memorable victory.

Last-minute defending saw the Bears run out winners 4-3 against the Melbourne Ice.