Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Storm halted as Tigers roar to a super victory
DUNDEE Tigers got 2017 off to a winning start with a battling 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock Storm in Dundee on Saturday.
It was a threadbare Tigers team that took to the ice with a number of players sidelined with injuries and others unavailable.
However, the spirit was high on the home bench and was apparent early in the game as the hosts got off to an ideal start. Scott Marr finished off a beautiful tic-tac-toe move with Grant Reekie and Paul Guilcher with less than three minutes on the clock.
Tigers dominated much of the action in the opening session but some impressive goaltending from Storm netminder Scott Blacknell thwarted all attacks.
As the period closed, Storm pulled level through Craig MacKenzie who took advantage of a defensive lapse to break free and slot home with less than a minute to play.
Tigers started strongly once again in the second session and had restored their advantage just two minutes in through a composed Paul Guilcher marker.
As Storm increased their efforts, the game opened up and some entertaining end-to-end action ensued.
Tigers’ task got more difficult as Mark McLeod was assessed a contentious five+game penalty for spearing just after the midway point resulting in a five-minute penalty kill and an already depleted squad getting even more stretched.
Tigers class shone with the man disadvantage and Storm were unable to break through the home defensive unit.
Shortly after returning to f ull strength, Tigers doubled their lead through Grant Reekie who shot home beyond a diving Blackwell to finish the period scoring.
The hosts looked comfortable as the third period got under way despite a change in tactics from Storm who looked to stretch the Tigers defence.
An early powerplay for Tigers saw a lot of good work but that was matched by the heroics of Blackwell in the visitors net.
Another powerplay in the 52nd minute was more successful as Grant Reekie was on target again, forcing home Tigers’ fourth forcing a Storm timeout as they searched for a way back into the match.
The visitors adjustments were fruitless, however, as, just two minutes later, Callum Turnbull put a home victory beyond doubt as he slotted home off a feed from Guilcher to make it five and conclude the scoring.
A Tigers spokesman said: “We knew we couldn’t take this game lightly but, with the short bench, we couldn’t be as assertive as we would have liked.
“We played a smart game and, in the end, came out with a good victory. Storm made it tough on us and their physicality will probably win them games this season, especially when they play at home.
“We’ve a pair of massive Scottish Cup games coming up in a fortnight and our focus now turns to those. Hopefully, we’ll have a few bodies back for those matches and we can put in the type of performance we’re capable of as we look to progress”