Friday marks the third Melbourne derby already in season 2025, with the twice-bitten Mustangs hosting the ladder-leading Ice in what promises to be a big game. The first two games have been split, with the Ice winning the first, and the Mustangs prevailing in overtime last game. So how what does the tale of the tape say?

Overall in 2025

So far this year

As mentioned above, the teams have split the games so far – though thanks to a final minute goal by Canberra Brave legend Joey Hughes to send the second game to overtime, the Ice have 4 of the 6 points on offer.

Both games have been low-scoring affairs, which goes against the grain for the teams in 2025 as they have both been big scorers. A key part of this has been poor powerplay performance, with a collective performance of 1/18 on the man-advantage. If either team can get that performing, it will go a long way to banking a win.

Both starting goalies have been high performers, with save percentages above 0.920, but on the scoring front, the biggest impact has been from the Ice’s Joakim Erdugan – with two goals and three apples.

Longer history

From 2013, when AIHL games became 50 minutes long (from 45), the Ice and Mustangs have met 42 times in the regular season. The Ice have won 22 of these (19 in regulation and 3 in either overtime or shootout), while the Mustangs have won 20 (16 and 4). Throughout these 42 games, the Mustangs have outscored the Ice as well – 156 to 140, and the men in orange have (slightly) stronger special teams – powerplay of 20.0% and penalty kill of 81.4%, compared to 18.6% and 80.0%.

Period by period

The two teams have opposite strengths throughout games in 2025 so far – with the Mustangs jumping out of the gate in periods one and two, while the Ice bring the strength in periods two and three.

Likely lineups

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