Stars aim to inflict a Clan defeat on Glasgow

THE Kitmart Dundee Stars have won their last three home matches and are aiming to continue that tonight as they renew their rivalry with Glasgow Clan for the first time this season.

Stars have put together a good run of form recently, winning four of their last five matches and that has given the team a massive boost following last month’s injury crisis.

However, they are still set to be without up to four players again for this weekend’s fixtures with Glasgow and Cardiff Devils.

Kris Inglis and Cody Drover will be unavailable for both matches, while Markus Kankaanperä and Alexandre Ranger could make a return to the line-up but decisions will be made on game day by head coach Omar Pacha, pictured.

Dundee will meet Clan for the first time this season tonight and already the historically intense rivalry is set to provide another great encounter.

Despite starting their campaign in November, Glasgow have already caught the Tayside team in the league standings, after collecting nine points through their first nine games – although, on their last outing, Malcolm Cameron’s men lost 6-0 at home to Belfast Giants last Sunday and have not played since.

Mathieu Roy leads the Clan in scoring with six goals and six assists through the nine games so far, but Glasgow will also have to handle some Stars players who are in red hot scoring form.

Spencer Dorowicz has found the net twice and collected three points over the last three games, while Sebastian Bengtsson and Philippe Sanche have six points each from their last five appearances.

Then, tomorrow, Dundee head to South Wales for their second game against Cardiff Devils this week.

Speaking ahead of a big weekend for his side, Stars boss Pacha said: “It is a tough one.

“The Clan have been a successful team on the road and three of their wins came away from home.

“So, it will be a challenge. I expect a physical team and a physical encounter.

“It is the first time we have played them in two years and we know the rivalry is there, so we are expecting a really intense match.”

He continued: “Last week, they played four games in six days, so it was challenging for them, but we are expecting a competitive match.

“We have been playing really well the last few weeks, especially at home, so hopefully we can continue that trend.”

This evening’s home match against Glasgow will face-off at 7pm while tomorrow’s road game in Cardiff starts at 6pm.