The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pacha is confident as top sides come calling
Dundee stars: Coach upbeat ahead of visits by Giants and Storm
A huge weekend lies in store for the Dundee Stars as they can use their home advantage to gain four valuable points in the league standings when they take on two top sides.
The Belfast Giants roll into Dundee tonight as they look to claim their first win in Tayside this year after a 3-2 loss on penalty shots in September.
It was a different story in Belfast as the Stars fell 7-4 to a Blazing Belfast offence.
Dundee come into the weekend after losing their last two completed games in overtime.
However, their most recent game is yet to be concluded. A double header with Guildford last weekend saw the Elite League newcomers steal an extra point from the Stars at the DIA after the game finished 2-2 after 60 minutes, with the Flames winning in extra time.
The second game in Surrey was abandoned due to poor ice conditions.
The game was tied 2-2 after the first period but after an hour delay the second period was not started as the ice was in an unplayable condition, and the referee abandoned the match.
The league is yet to announce its decision on the outcome or replay of the match and if the Stars will be paid compensation for making the pointless 500-mile round trip.
The Stars welcome Manchester Storm tomorrow night.
They previously met in Altrincham, where the Storm came back from 3-0 down to win on penalty shots.
Manchester still remain top of the Elite League table despite losing their last match against the Milton Keynes Lightning.
Dundee Stars head coach Omar Pacha said: “It’s a big weekend for ourselves playing two top teams in the league.
“We have had some really close games recently but we still haven’t found the way to put teams away in the 60 minutes.
“We are playing well but there are still areas we will need to improve over the course of the weekend, because Belfast are a fast team with a lot of upside offensively and Manchester are bigger, more physical but still with good skill.
“Two different matchups but two games I feel confident that, if we play our game, we will give ourselves a chance to win.”
Face-off for today’s game is 7.30pm, with tomorrow’s game starting at 7pm.