The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stars down Devils for another home win
ICE HOCKEY: Goaltenders to fore as Dundee claim points
DUNDEE STARS 3 CARDIFF DEVILS 1
Stars secured a third home win in a row as they gained revenge over Elite League champions Cardiff at Dundee Ice Arena last night.
The hosts scored through Riley Stadel, Johan Andersson and Gabriel Levesque to end Devils’ six-game winning run and draw level with Braehead Clan on the 13-point mark.
Joey De Concilys returned to the home line-up but Ben Edmonds joined the four missing regulars. Devils announced that ex-Star Craig Moore was sidelined following an injury he picked up against Belfast on Saturday.
Cardiff, who won 4-0 on their last visit, were also without Mark Louis, Luke Piggott, Joey Haddad, Toms Rutkis and Callum Buglass.
Dundee, boosted by their impressive win on Sunday against Belfast Giants, took the lead in the fifth minute when a quick pass along the blueline set up Riley Stadel to rocket a slapshot past Ben Bowns.
Travis Fullerton made some big saves to keep it at 1-0 as the visitors threatened to level.
Andersson missed a good chance and Jordan Cownie was bundled over by Justin Faryna, earning the Stars the first powerplay of the night. Devils killed it off as the first period ended.
Fullerton continued to deny Cardiff and a quick break by Stars led to an Andersson shot that took a deflection on the way into the net at 24:32.
The goaltenders continued to frustrate their opponents with big stops at either end but Devils finally found a way past the Dundee goalie with six minutes left in the period.
Tyson Strachan fired the loose puck over the sprawled out Fullerton after a scramble and, despite a protest by Stars’ goalie, referee Neil Wilson allowed the goal to stand.
Fullerton was tested again and Brian Hart was kept out by the Devils keeper as the second period ended at 2-1.
Cardiff piled on the pressure at the start of the final period but it was the home side’s Levesque who netted to restore the two-goal lead, although he picked up an injury on the play.
Cardiff pressed to get back in the game but Stars’ defence stood strong.
Fullerton produced the save of the game when he dived across his goal to block and protect his side’s two-goal cushion in the final minutes.
Devils pushed on but Jimmy Jensen missed a hat-trick of chances as one hit the post, one went wide and he was then bundled over in a good position before getting his shot away.