The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dundee Stars boost play-off chances with victory in Pride Weekend opener
Dundee Stars kickedoff the Elite League’s first-ever Pride weekend with a big 6-3 win over Scottish rivals Glasgow Clan last night.
Omar Pacha’s side have now won six of their last 10 games as the battle for the play-off places hots up.
Clan were two goals ahead but goals from Anthony Beauregard, Dryden Dow, Craig Gans, Kevin Dufour, Brett Stovin and Matt Carter sealed a memorable night in front of more than 1,600 fans.
Dundee were unable to capitalise on an early powerplay chance and were left trailing as the visitors opened the scoring on five minutes.
Rookie defenceman Liam Stenton fired in a shot from the blueline but the rebound dropped to the left of Stars goaltender Alex Leclerc’s goal for Michal Beca to tap in.
Glasgow hit the Stars again once they got back to full strength from another powerplay and a scramble in front of the Dundee net allowed Nolan Laporte to push home the loose puck to make it 2-0.
Stars responded, however, and Dufour set up Beauregard to fire home despite the best efforts of Clan keeper Jordan Mclaughlin.
Zack Fitzgerald’s side had chances to increase their lead in the second session as the home team picked up three penalties in the space of three minutes but Dundee held on and Colton Kroeker set up Dow to smack home past Mclaughlin for the leveller on 30 minutes.
Stars had Dundee Ice Arena buzzing with another goal on 34 minutes when Gans gathered a loose puck and blasted it straight into the net from inside the blueline.
The third period did not begin well for Pacha’s men as Glasgow’s Craig Peacock slotted home to make it 3-3 in the 45th minute.
However, the visitors were back on the kill as Laporte committed a tripping foul and Stars answered back with a powerplay marker of their own.
Stars responded when Dundonian Jordan Cownie’s shot was deflected into the path of Dufour, who shot past Mclaughlin to restore their lead after 46 minutes.
Pacha’s men then decided to put more distance between themselves and Clan.
Stovin made it 5-3 36 seconds later after good hold-up play by captain Marquardt and Carter wrapped up the win with an empty net goal 62 seconds from time.
Pacha was delighted to claim an important win that sets up his side nicely for their trip to Manchester Storm tomorrow.
He said: “I don’t think we came out as strong but we were able to pull one back and instill confidence. The third period was our best spell of the match.”
Face-off tomorrow is 5.15pm.