The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stars remaining focused as Storm turn up heat
Shock win means Stars still need a point to seal top-eight spot
Dundee Stars coach Marc Lefebvre insists his team will remain focused on their own games as the race for a coveted Elite League play-off place reaches a red-hot climax.
Manchester Storm’s shock 3-1 victory at fourth-placed Nottingham Panthers this week piled on the pressure ahead of the Dundee side’s double-header with Fife Flyers this weekend.
Storm’s final home game of the regular season is on Sunday at Altrincham, again against Nottingham, and the face-off is one hour ahead of Stars’ home joust with Flyers.
Lefebvre is fully aware of the Storm situation but told his players to concentrate on what they have to do.
Simply put, that is to earn a point from the four available this weekend to secure a place in the top eight.
Should Stars falter against Fife, a defeat (regulation or overtime) for Coventry in Sheffield on Sunday would also put Lefebvre’s team into the playoffs with Blaze now unable to match the Stars’ number of regulation wins.
That would hand the Tayside club the tie-break in the event they finish level on points
However, two regulation losses for Stars combined with victories for both Manchester and Coventry would spell disaster for the Kingsway club, who would miss out on the eight-team playoffs by a single point.
Lefebvre, however, wants to finish seventh and therefore avoid league champions Cardiff Devils in the quarterfinal.
Storm, however, remain hopeful and their general manager, Neil Russell, said: “This Sunday’s home game (5.30pm) is huge for the club.
“We have the possibility to secure a play-off spot in what is our second season as a franchise.”
Lefebvre would love to take the pressure off by winning at Kirkcaldy on Saturday (face-off 7.15pm).
After the game Flyers will cut the ice before welcoming fans and players back out to skate together for a final time this season.
A spokesman said: “If you are looking to get your jersey or programme signed then make sure you’re at the game and take part in the late skate along with your favourite Flyers players.”