Powerplay chances go abegging for Stars

DUNDEE Stars welcomed Cardiff Devils to Dundee Ice Arena last night for an Elite League fixture but it was the visitors who grabbed the spoils as they won 4-0 to end the host’s unbeaten home run this season.

In the visitors’ ranks were former Dundee duo of Justin Faryna and Craig Moore. Stars were missing longterm inured pair, Anthony Mastrodicasa and Chris Lawrence.

Cardiff got off to a great start and took the lead after only three minutes. It was a familiar face who did the damage when former fans’ favourite Faryna netted with an assist from Layne Ulmer. On 12 minutes, Stars’ Malcolm Gould was given two minutes for slashing and, on the powerplay, Matthew Myers made it 2-0.

Devils ended the period with a three-goal lead when, on 18 minutes, Patrick Asselin fired home from close in to make it 3-0 going into the second stanza. It was a case of the visitors taking their chances as both teams had seven shots each on goal during the period.

On 25 minutes Stars had a powerplay chance when Devils’ Andrew Hotham was awarded two minutes for slashing but they failed to make the extra man count. Hotham was again in penalty trouble on 29 minutes (tripping) but again Stars failed to take their chances.

For the third time in the middle session, Dundee went on the powerplay when Joey Haddad received two minutes for interference on 33 minutes but again they spurned the chance to get on the board. With just over one minute left in the period, Cardiff went on the powerplay when Johan Andersson received two minutes for tripping but the session ended with Devils ahead by their three first-period goals.

Cardiff added a fourth goal on 53 minutes when a shot from Drew Paris was tipped into the net by Ulmer for his second of the game. That ended the scoring and the Welsh side left with both points leaving Dundee ruing their missed powerplay opportunities.

Stars coach Pacha said after the game: “It was disappointing to go 3-0 down so early in the first period. We had chances in the second and controlled much of that period but our powerplay was poor and it cost us.

“Cardiff rarely lose two games in a row and we knew they wouldn’t want to make it three in a row. We knew they would come out hard against us but didn’t handle that well.”