Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
ROUND-UP Injury-hit Stars lose both their weekend ties
DUNDEE CCS Stars went into the weekend’s games minus five players and suffered two defeats.
Joey Sides, Cale Tanaka, Craig Cescon and Craig Holland were out through injury and Josh Grieveson was on international duty with GB.
After a 4-1 away loss to Coventry, Stars were defeated 4-3 at home by Braehead.
In Coventry on Saturday, the home side took the lead after three minutes through Kevin Noble.
Seven minutes later, Coventry’s David Clements and Dundee’s Cameron McGiffin were each awarded five minute majors for fighting, with Justin Faryna for Stars sitting out two minutes for roughing, leaving Blaze on the powerplay.
The home side put pressure on the Stars’ nets but the away side’s penalty kill team saw out the powerplay.
In 24 minutes, Stars got the breakthrough when Felix Bruijsten netted.
Blaze hit back with an effort from Tait only for Fallon to bring off an outstanding save that brought appreciation.
However, the home side’s pressure paid off when, with six minutes remaining in the second period, Ben Davies struck to make it 2-1
Six minutes after the break, Coventry find the net for the third time as Ross Venus netted.
In 51 minutes, Switzer took a two minute penalty for high sticks and, on the powerplay, Josh Godfrey hit a first time effort high into the Stars’ net to make it 4-1 Blaze.
Stars couldn’t find a way back into the game and the buzzer went to give Coventry a 4-1 win and two points.
In DIA last night, Stars had two early powerplay chances with Alex Leavitt sitting out in two minutes and Corey Cowick in six minutes — but they failed to convert either.
Braehead took the lead in 15 minutes when Matt Beca fired the opening goal.
Three minutes later, Kyle Wharton added a second that allowed the visitors to take a 2-0 lead i nto the middle session.
The home side then pulled a goal back in 26 minutes when Felix Poulin found the net after assists from Kevin Bruijsten and Brett Switzer.
Two minutes later, the home side squared the game when Poulin turned provider as he set up Mikael Lidhammar who netted to make it 2-2.
Cody Carlson was then awarded two minutes f or holding with 30 minutes on the clock but Stars failed to convert on the powerplay.
In 33 minutes, the Taysiders took the lead for the first time and it was Lidhammar who grabbed his second of the match to give Stars a 3-2 advantage, a lead they held going into the final period.
Two minutes into the third stanza, Stars’ Joey de Concilys was awarded two minutes for delay of the game and Clan levelled on the powerplay through Leavitt.
Another penalty, this time on Justin Faryna for slashing, saw Braehead cash in on the powerplay to take a 4-3 lead when Leavitt registered his second goal of the game after 48 minutes.
With just over one minute left, Stars pulled keeper Fallon in favour of the extra skater and then both teams called a time-out as the buzzer approached.
Stars put pressure on the Clan net but the visitors held out for a 4-3 win to leave the Dundee club pointless from their two games.
However with five players down, it was two creditable performances and they couldn’t be faulted for their efforts.
Coach Marc LeFebvre said: “I thought we had that one but we took some penalties at the wrong time. We had chances but, with five guys down, it was always going to be tough.”