Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Trio of tough massive test
DUNDEE Stars have a huge weekend ahead in their quest to clinch that final play-off place when they face three tough games in three days.
They start with a derby against Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy tonight (7.30pm).
That is followed by another massive match in Dundee Ice Arena tomorrow when their rivals for the play-off spot, Coventry Blaze, are the visitors (7pm).
The final game is also at Dundee Ice Arena when Milton Keynes Lightning are the visitors on Sunday (5pm).
Flyers v Stars is always a tough match and an important one to the fans.
However, this game takes on even more significance as a win against their fierce rivals will see Stars leapfrog Coventry Blaze and sit one point behind Braehead Clan.
Flyers come into the game on the back of a 6-1 demolition of Edinburgh on Tuesday. However, it was Stars who claimed the best result of that night when they beat a strong Nottingham side 4-3 on their own ice.
Coventry sit one point ahead of Stars but have played two more games than the Taysiders. Should Dundee win in Fife and beat Blaze, they would open up a three-point lead over the English outfit with one game in hand.
Blaze last visited the Kingsway rink in October. On that occasion they left with full points in a 2-1 overtime win. Stars will be looking to reverse that result tomorrow night.
Milton Keynes are in their debut season in the Elite League and sit 11th on 37 points, seven points behind Stars and with one game more played.
However, they are a dangerous side although Stars have beaten them twice in their three previous meetings including a 4-3 victory in Milton Keynes in January.
Stars coach Omar Pacha said: “We have won in our last three road games, so are obviously looking to make that four when we visit Fife tonight. It’s a tough building to go to but we have won there before and I’m confident we can do it again.
“We then have two huge matches on our own ice. Blaze are looking to qualify as we are, so it’s going to be a tough match. However, the way we are playing I know we can get the points. Milton Keynes have picked up some big wins so we won’t be treating them lightly.
“It’s big weekend but we will continue to concentrate on one game at a time and hope to pick up the points as we go along.”