The Dogs produced their best performance of the season in beating the second-placed Melbourne Ice 8-2 on the weekend.

It was a win 15-year-old rookie Billy Cliff won't forget. Cliff scored his first league goal after a nice set-up by linemate Scottie Herbert after just two minutes.

The Ice Dogs ran hot from there as the team's Canadian imports followed Cliff's example.

Mitch Strang rung a slapshot off the top bar, and Frank Angyal and Ty Sheddon followed. The coaching staff warned of how the Dogs had blown similar leads last season.

Angyal responded to the coaches' call by notching another goal, Sheddon scored right after and would go on to complete a hat-trick in the third period.

Some undisciplined penalties from the Dogs allowed Melbourne to get momentum, but the revival was brief.

Angyal summed up: ``The boys played really well but we are not getting too carried away, as Melbourne are a very good team and weren't at their best.

``We played solid and we just have to keep building on that as we head to play-offs.''

The Dogs are now third, have a bye this weekend and will be on the road in a fortnight to Adelaide and Melbourne.The next home game is against leaders and defending premiers the Penrith Bears, whom the Dogs haven't beaten since 2006.