Stars’ play-off as Clan gather

DUNDEE Stars’ play-off hopes took a severe dent as they lost both of the matches to Braehead Clan.

On Saturday, the two teams locked horns in Glasgow and, despite Stars taking the lead, the home side hit back to record a 3-1 win.

It was the same story in Dundee last night when, again, Dundee went in front only for Braehead to take the points in a 4-3 victory.

It means Clan are now five points in front of Stars in the final play-off spot but the Dundee outfit still have the chance to overtake their rivals as they have three games in hand over them.

As well as having the injured duo of Johan Andersson and Riley Stadel missing from the games, Stars were also without defenceman, Emerson Hrynyk.

In Braehead, both teams had early powerplay chances but neither took advantage of the extra man and the game remained scoreless at 0-0.

Then on 14 minutes Clan’s Jacob Doty was awarded two minutes for charging and this time Stars made the extra man count when Gabriel Levesque opened the scoring.

With two minutes left in the opening period, Dundee’s Joey de Concilys was sent to the penalty bin on a two-minute holding penalty and Landon Oslanski levelled the game at 1-1.

Clan took the lead 12 minutes into the middle session when Brendan Brookes fired home their second goal. Levesque was then given two minutes for hooking and two minutes for cross checking after thirty-four minutes and, on the resultant powerplay, Doty punished the Taysiders with a third goal, giving the home side a 3-1 lead going into the final period.

Braehead controlled the third stanza as Stars gave up three powerplays and, although Clan couldn’t take advantage of the extra man on any of them, they did enough to hold out for a 3-1 win and collect two huge points.

Back in Dundee Ice Arena, neither team could find the breakthrough but the visitors had the bulk of the chances, out-shooting their hosts by 13 shots to six.

Stars did get off the mark in the 22nd minute when Brian Hart gave them a 1-0 lead with assists from Omar Pacha and Cody Carlson.

However, as happened in Braehead the previous evening, Clan hit back with the equalising goal coming on the powerplay.

On 34 minutes Stars’ Jordan Cownie

Dundee Stars’ Chris Lawrence in action against Braehead. Brian Hart (left) and Omar Pacha (right) charge down the puck as Braehead Clan