The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Stars lose out but Fife see off Guildford.
ICE HOCKEY: Narrow weekend defeats leave Pacha’s men toiling
SHEFFIELD STEELERS 4 DUNDEE STARS 2
Stars suffered two narrow defeats at the weekend as they lost to Coventry Blaze and Sheffield Steelers to extend their winless run in the Elite League to five matches.
Omar Pacha’s team were beaten 2-1 at home by Blaze on Saturday night in a tight contest and followed up with a 4-2 defeat at Sheffield yesterday.
Blaze held a 1-0 lead after the first period at Dundee Ice Arena as Evan Bloodoff capitalised on a Dundee turnover in the eighth minute.
However, with both teams down to four skaters in the second period, Kevin Dufour put Stars back on level terms at the halfway mark as he went clean through on goal and fired the puck through the legs of Jamie Phillips.
The West Midlands club nicked the two points in the final period as Alex Forbes scored a shorthanded goal in the 49th minute.
Yesterday’s match in Yorkshire began slowly with Sheffield’s Tomas Duba and Dundee’s Alex Leclerc standing firm to keep the game in a stalemate.
Dundee captain Matt Marquardt was penalised for a slashing foul in the 11th minute and that opened up the match.
On the resulting powerplay, Marcolivier Vallerand fired a shot into the top corner to start the scoring after 11 minutes of play.
Robert Dowd doubled Steelers’ lead as he batted in the rebound of Ben O’connor’s shot a minute later.
The goal was reviewed for a highstick foul but, after a lot of deliberation, the call on the ice stood, much to the Dundee coach’s frustration.
Aaron Fox’s men added a third goal in the 14th minute as Tanner Eberle pulled the puck around a charging Leclerc and tucked it into the net.
Stars were given a chance to get off the mark late in the first period as Michael Davies was called for a hooking foul but the hosts held on to their threegoal cushion going into the first break.
The second period saw the visitors cut the deficit with an early goal. Brett Stovin was on hand to turn in the rebound of Jagger Dirk’s blocked shot in the 22nd minute.
There was then some penalty trouble for both sides but neither team could use any of their man advantage.
Stars winger Elgin Pearce had a chance to make it 3-2 after 36 minutes but his shot from in front of Steelers’ goal was straight into the chest of Duba.
In the third stanza Stars were presented with an opportunity to close Sheffield’s lead to one as Mikko Kuukka was sent to the box for a slashing foul.
Egils Kalns went close before Pearce converted on the powerplay just 33 seconds into Kuukka’s two-minute penalty.
The Canadian forward was in space and picked out by Anthony Beauregard before he released a quick shot that flew past Duba and deflected in off the bar.
Sheffield restored their two-goal lead after 51 minutes. Eric Meland’s low shot hit the leg of Eberle to deflect the puck past Leclerc, making it 4-2.
Dundee failed to take advantage of another powerplay late in the game and, after calling a timeout with two minutes left and pulling his goaltender with 33 seconds to go, Pacha pushed his side to get a late goal.
The Steelers held on to claim a home win and continued to starve Stars of a victory, both against Sheffield and in the league campaign.
Dundee face a trip to Belfast Giants on Friday night before a home clash with Glasgow Clan on Saturday.
Fife Flyers snapped a disappointing recent run with a 2-1 road win at Guildford last night in the Elite League.
Flames had claimed a 3-2 overtime win in Kirkcaldy on Saturday.