Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Stars aim to consolidate important play-off spot
DUNDEE CCS Stars go into the penultimate weekend of the regular season looking for two wins to consolidate their seventh position in the league table, a spot that would guarantee them a place in the quarter-finals of the play-offs.
Tonight, they face the challenge of Nottingham Panthers in Dundee Ice Arena (face-off 7.30pm).
Stars will be hoping to record their first win of the season against last year’s play-off champions.
That is followed by a trip to Altrincham for a hugely important contest against Manchester Storm tomorrow.
The Taysiders are currently two places above Storm in the Elite League standings, one point ahead with one game in hand.
A win against the Lancashire outfit would go a long way to help secure a play-off spot.
Stars head coach Marc LeFebvre said: “Both games are tough but at this stage of the season they are all going to be played like play-off games.
“Nottingham have lost their last 10 games on the road but they are still a dangerous team.
“We will go into the game focused, knowing what we have to do and to take care of our own business.
“The pressure is on Manchester tomorrow as they will be looking to get the vital points they need.
“But we are playing well, have a decent record down there and will go into the game with confidence.
“The players have done well in practice this week, we have had discussions about what we need to do and we are ready.”
Elsewhere, Fife Flyers have already qualified for the play-offs after their two good away wins against Coventry and Edinburgh last weekend.
Tomorrow, they host Braehead Clan in Kirkcaldy with a 7.15pm face-off and that’s followed by a long trip to Wales to take on the league leaders Cardiff Devils.
Flyers will be looking to pick up points from both games as the teams start to jockey for play-off positions.