The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Vital win for Flyers over title rivals
Shayne Stockton netted a goal and set up three others as fired-up Fife Flyers took a big step towards clinching the Gardiner Conference title last night with a 6-3 victory at nearest rivals Braehead Clan.
And, at the same time, they provided a boost to Dundee Stars’ bid to edge injury-hit Clan for a coveted play-off place.
Fife, who have now won six out of their seven meetings with Clan so far this term, secured the welcome win thanks to a strong first period.
American-born centre Stockton collected the first goal after nine minutes with Charlie Mosey providing the assist.
Liam Heelis was not long in joining him on the scoresheet after being set up by Carlo Finucci and 28-year-old Stockton in 14:33.
The third goal came four minutes after when Danick Gauthier fed Mosey. He found Chase Schaber, who buried the puck in the Clan net.
The home side clawed a goal back through defenceman Cameron Burt after 32 minutes but Peter Leblanc took advantage of Clan penalty problems to secure the fourth with Stockton again involved along with Gauthier.
The goal came inside the final three minutes of the middle session.
The home side hit back through Jacob Doty after 51 minutes to cut the deficit but Finucci assisted by Stockton popped in Flyers’ fifth 41 seconds later.
Fife, who iced debutant Dan Correale, made it 6-2 when Danick Gauthier scored on an empty net when the Glasgow side withdrew their netminder to have six skaters.
Braehead claimed a third through former Dundee star Felix-antoine Poulin with less than two minutes left.
Flyers were without Reece Cochrane, Evan Bloodoff, Russ Moyer and Brady Ramsay in the 3-0 win over Edinburgh on Sunday and it is unknown if any of them will feature in the double-header.
Today’s game against Stars in Kirkcaldy faces-off at 7.15pm.