The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Overtime heartache for Stars down south
Omar Pacha’s men end busy weekend with four points on board
MILTON KEYNES LIGHTNING 3 DUNDEE STARS 2
Stars fell to a late overtime defeat in Milton Keynes last night as they were beaten 3-2, Omar Pacha’s side collected four points from their four games this week.
There were no clear-cut chances in the opening five minutes as the game got off to a slow start, but eventually there was a good move by Dundee as all three forwards linked up before François Bouchard’s shot was saved by the pad of Patrick Killeen.
Milton Keynes got the opening goal after Eric Neiley had been left alone in the slot and managed to pull in the pass before quickly firing into the top corner in the eighth minute.
The home side could have been well ahead but a big double stop by Pontus Sjögren as he saved a slapshot effort before snatching another with his glove.
There were chances for both teams but neither could get the next goal as the first period concluded with Milton Keynes 1-0 in the lead.
With five minutes played in the second, Owen Griffiths got through oneon-one, however he missed the target as the Stars looked asleep at the back. Sjögren had been bailing Dundee out before he got a break as Stars gained a long five on three powerplay.
Lightning had Wallace and Mazanec in the box but managed to kill off the two man advantage before Wallace picked the pocket of a Dundee defenceman after getting out the box. He fed a pass to Mazanec, who played in Griffiths at the back door in the 31st minute to double the Lightning’s lead.
Stars were put on their first penalty kill as Kris Inglis was boxed on an interference call in the 32nd minute. Omar Pacha’s men maintained their 100% penalty kill record and soon were back on the powerplay as Joonas Huovinen was penalised for interference.
Dundee made a dominant start to the third period and the unsighted Killeen was forced to sprawl out to make a big save. Although, Stars eventually created a chance that was too much for the Lightning goalie, as several rebounds are saved before Drydn Dow knocked the puck home in the 48th minute.
Dow was involved again as Dundee found an equaliser in the 54th minute, he played a pass into Hart, who was waiting on the doorstep and after a few attempts got it past Killeen.
The visitors ran into penalty trouble as first Fabrizio Ricci then Bouchard were sent to the penalty box but Dundee held on to send the game to overtime.
It was a fast-paced start by Milton Keynes and a big shot was held by Sjögren early in the extra period but the Lightning kept creating breaks and building pressure against Stars.
Charlie Corcoran picked up a tripping penalty in the 63rd minute and with the four on three advantage, Milton Keynes were knocking the puck around well. Although Stars struggled to contain them, they eventually managed to clear.
Inside the final minute of overtime Andreas Valdix stepped in the slot and fired his shot past Sjögren for a powerplay and game-winning goal.
On Saturday night, Stars beat Belfast Giants 5-3 at the Ice Arena. Mike Sullivan, Jordan Cownie, François Bouchard and Lukas Lundvald (2) got the goals.